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休士頓攝影學會黃錦坡(Gene Wong)捕捉自然奇景瞬間 優勝美地馬尾瀑布回溯大師步履追索難逢妙境（上）

(06/08/2011)

Nature Unique - Fire Fall

by Gene Wong

Nature Unique, a natural fire fall inspires me to visit Yosemite National Park to see Horsetail Fall in February. The fire fall actually has nothing to do with fire whatsoever. Horsetail Fall is a seasonal fall at the eastern edge of El Capitan. During a short few days in February, the ice at top melts down to form a fall while the sunset spotlights the fall with an orange glow. This is so called a fire fall. I shot ‘Yosemite Icon’ from Tunnel View which is a very popular spot to view or photograph the Yosemite Valley vista. Horsetail Fall is in the shadow of the bright side of El Capitan, which is at the left of the valley, while Bridal Veil Fall is at the right. Half Dome is straight down from the valley.

I photographed ‘Bright Horsetail Fall‘ in the late afternoon with strong lights behind the cantle of saddle. One of my favorite quotes is: “My first thought is always of light” by Galen Rowell, who made the Horsetail Fall famous with his photography of fire fall in 1973

In February at Yosemite Valley, it is common that the sky is too cloudy to block the sunlight. When sunset approaches, I tilt my camera and photograph this ‘Dull Horsetail Fall’ on a cloudy day, creating an image that shows the horse’s head down, and that it is time to relax. As Ansel Adams quotes: “Photography is more than a medium for factual communication of ideas. It is a creative art”.

Fire fall only happens when water is sufficient to form a fall and when the light is available at the right time and right place. You might just see it if you are in Yosemite at the perfect time and location.

I was lucky to have the chance to witness the color of the fall even if it is not a fire fall. I was able to shoot the ‘Dyed Pink Horsetail Fall’ at 15 minutes after the sunset with the light reflecting from the sky. The light only last for one minute. As a Chinese proverb: “At the right time, in the right place with the right people in order to have chance of success.“

( 回首頁 Houston eWIND )

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