Photography and Yosemite National Park’s beautiful landscapes have gone hand in hand since the mid-1800s when photographers like Charles Weed and Carleton Watkins packed large-format cameras with glass plates into Yosemite Valley on mules. Their images were pivotal in sharing and ultimately protecting this landscape for future generations.
Today, modern photographers continue to flock to Yosemite to share its beauty with the world, to preserve memories of friends and families, and to make inspiring art. Amazing photographs lurk around every corner and turn in the trail. There is beauty underfoot in the form of delicate wildflowers and overhead in tall forests and white granite cliffs. Here are some tips on where to get the best photos in Yosemite.
Iconic Yosemite Photography Locations
Surrounded by all of these possibilities, it can be hard to know where to begin looking for a place to shoot. To get started, check out our list of Top 10 Places to Get the Shot. These are famous locations, with iconic views that have mesmerized people for decades. If you’re looking for pictures that are unmistakably Yosemite, this is your list. Remember to keep your camera handy on your way to Yosemite too. For example, if you travel up the Merced River along Highway 140, keep your eyes open for some of the beautiful scenes along the river and near El Portal.
Photographing Yosemite Across the Seasons
Many Yosemite snapshots show the landscape’s beauty under a cloudless blue sky. This is the scene that will greet most summer-time visitors. It makes for beautiful hiking weather and bright, sparkling images. On the other hand, if you’re looking for a truly unique Yosemite shot be sure to plan a trip for late fall, winter, or early spring. Serious photographers delight in the cloudy forecasts that accompany these seasons. They are looking for those ephemeral bursts of light, wisps of fog swirling through the trees in the valley, and the moody images that come with orange and pink clouds at sunset or sunrise.
Unique Yosemite Photography Events
During particular moments in Nature’s regular rhythm of changing light and flowing water, everything comes together to create the most mystical and unique opportunities for photographers. And when they happen regularly, photographers from around the world travel to Yosemite for the chance to capture these unique moments.
Mist Opportunities: Guide to Seeing a Yosemite Moonbow
Guide to the Natural Yosemite Firefall 2023– Horsetail Fall Firefall
Discover the Best Spots With A Guide
Yosemite is a big place, and with so many beautiful locations and the ever-changing nature of the light, it can be helpful to have someone show you around. While there are many photographers from far away eager to lead trips to Yosemite, consider the advantage of spending that time with a truly local photographer – one that has been exploring this landscape during every spare moment for years, watching the light change with the seasons and developing an intimate knowledge of the park.
Share Your Favorite Photos & Photography Tips
Wait for it. While hiking is always worthwhile when possible, in Yosemite, views like these are accessible without even stepping out of the car. Captured here: Half Dome as seen from Glacier Point Road.
Reel by: @its_claudiia
Summer 2025 temporary vehicle reservations are available and easy to obtain -- grab one fast before they`re gone! A vehicle reservation is required to enter Yosemite from 6 AM to 2 PM every day from June 15 – Aug. 15, and on Labor Day Weekend, Aug. 30 – Sept. 1. There are also other ways to access the park - find out more at the link in our profile.
#yosemite #yosemitenationalpark #yosemitevalley #yosemitenation #yosemitenp #yosemite_national_park #yosemitenps #yosemitepark #california #californialove❤️ #californialove #roadtrip @YosemiteNation @yosemitenps @visitcalifornia @cahighsierra @visitgoldcountry
Yosemite`s Nevada Fall at peak flow. Though spring runoff is typically in May and June, there`s still time to enjoy this stunning roaring waterfall as the snowpack melts. Access Nevada Fall via the Mist Trail or the John Muir Trail next time you visit Yosemite!
Reel by: @insta.grahamphotography
Summer 2025 temporary vehicle reservations are available and easy to obtain -- grab one fast before they`re gone! A vehicle reservation is required to enter Yosemite from 6 AM to 2 PM every day from June 15 – Aug. 15, and on Labor Day Weekend, Aug. 30 – Sept. 1. There are also other ways to access the park - find out more at the link in our profile.
#yosemite #yosemitenationalpark #yosemitevalley #yosemitenation #yosemitenp #yosemite_national_park #yosemitenps #yosemitepark #california #californialove❤️ #californialove #roadtrip @YosemiteNation @yosemitenps @visitcalifornia @cahighsierra @visitgoldcountry
If you`re looking for wonder, Yosemite is waiting for you. A captivating Half Dome sunset, captured by @the_lost_coast.
Summer 2025 temporary vehicle reservations are available and easy to obtain -- grab one fast before they`re gone! A vehicle reservation is required to enter Yosemite from 6 AM to 2 PM every day from June 15 – Aug. 15, and on Labor Day Weekend, Aug. 30 – Sept. 1. There are also other ways to access the park - find out more at the link in our profile.
#yosemite #yosemitenationalpark #yosemitevalley #yosemitenation #yosemitenp #yosemite_national_park #yosemitenps #yosemitepark #california #californialove❤️ #californialove #roadtrip @YosemiteNation @yosemitenps @visitcalifornia @cahighsierra @visitgoldcountry
A few glimpses from the Mist Trail during peak runoff: falls, rainbows, the Merced River and lots and lots of cooling mist. This hike offers stunning views of not one, but two, of Yosemite`s epic falls: Vernal Fall and Nevada Fall.
Reel by: @the.solofoto
Summer 2025 temporary vehicle reservations are available and easy to obtain -- grab one fast before they`re gone! A vehicle reservation is required to enter Yosemite from 6 AM to 2 PM every day from June 15 – Aug. 15, and on Labor Day Weekend, Aug. 30 – Sept. 1. There are also other ways to access the park - find out more at the link in our profile.
#yosemite #yosemitenationalpark #yosemitevalley #yosemitenation #yosemitenp #yosemite_national_park #yosemitenps #yosemitepark #california #californialove❤️ #californialove #roadtrip @YosemiteNation @yosemitenps @visitcalifornia @cahighsierra @visitgoldcountry
A Glacier Point Sunrise here in Yosemite might just be the best way to ring in the weekend.
Reel by: @connordever
Summer 2025 temporary vehicle reservations are available and easy to obtain -- grab one fast before they`re gone! A vehicle reservation is required to enter Yosemite from 6 AM to 2 PM every day from June 15 – Aug. 15, and on Labor Day Weekend, Aug. 30 – Sept. 1. There are also other ways to access the park - find out more at the link in our profile.
#yosemite #yosemitenationalpark #yosemitevalley #yosemitenation #yosemitenp #yosemite_national_park #yosemitenps #yosemitepark #california #californialove❤️ #californialove #roadtrip @YosemiteNation @yosemitenps @visitcalifornia @cahighsierra @visitgoldcountry
