IreneAC Loc: San Diego

There are so many places to take photos, and actually, some of my best were taken at other than the usual sites.
At some of the best vantage points, be prepared for lots of cameras with large lenses on tripods setup by the "serious" photographers both in the morning and at dusk trying to catch the golden hour as it falls across the cliffs and valley.

A fun way to get around the valley: rent a bike. It allows you to go places cars are not allowed and you can stop, dismount, take photos and then continue on your ride without the hassle of parking a car at every photo op. Can't take bikes to Mirror Lake, however...

It's also fun to lie on a blanket in the meadow across from El Capitan (El Capitan Meadow) and with a good set of bins, watch the rock climbers. This assumes the ground isn't too wet; if you have room in your trunk take beach chairs. Parking along that part of the road is pretty easy.

The road to Glacier Point may still be closed when you go; we've gone in May a few times and it was always closed. Only time we got to Glacier Point was during our September trip.
BUT, Yosemite will still be amazing, even if GP is closed. There is so much to see and do; it really is a beautiful place!

rrayrob Loc: Las Vegas, NV

Above all good advice. So you will be staying in Bass Lake and driving into park each day. Best times to photograph is sunrise, early morning, late afternoon and sunset. Have gone to Yosemite many times & just returned 2 weeks ago from 3 day trip. Here are my suggestions: Definitely drive up to Glacier Pt., hike up Mist Trail to top of Vernal Falls, take walks up to Lower Yosemite Falls, Bridal Veil Falls and Mirror Lake. Drive up to Tunnel View for photos of valley - I did this at sunset, but go early to stake out your spot. Also shooting in the meadow in early morning and late afternoon is great. Try shooting reflections from Swinging Bridge and sunset shots of Half Dome from Scenic Bridge. All are on map give to you when you enter park. Don't forget to stop by the Ansel Adams Studio store in Yosemite Village. And if time allows, go to the Majestic Hotel, formerly the Awanahee Hotel, and go into the main dining room, the great room and walk outside in the meadow - great building from the past. So much to see and do - have a great trip.

Spirit Vision Photography Loc: Behind a Camera.

They changed the name of the Ahwahnee Hotel? 😡

rrayrob Loc: Las Vegas, NV

Yes, when Curry Company contract was not renewed by U.S. Park Service. Curry Company owns right to name and new owners wouldn't pay price for name. This is in the courts and don't know all the ins and outs. But yes, Ahwahnee Hotel is now the Majestic - but people still refer to it as the Ahwahnee.

Photoninny Loc: Monterey Bay Area

Curry Co. has not been involved with Yosemite for decades. The former consessionare involved is Delaware North. A good summary of the issue can be found here, if interested.
http://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/How-Yosemite-lost-its-historic-names-and-may-6883006.php

lightyear

Bass lake is quite a distance from the Park. You will enter by the south entrance, and will be closest to the Wawona Redwood tree grove with huge trees. It is quite a drive (30 min.) from there to the tunnel mentioned above. I always stay in the Park ( Yosemite Lodge) to minimize driving time. Kemper's book mentioned above is very helpful.

taxman Loc: Cleveland, Ohio

Since you are in the southern end of the park, consider spending a day in the Mariposa Grove to see the redwood forest there. I second the suggestion of Tioga Pass - Olmsted Point, Tanaya Lake, and Tuolumne Meadows. Finally, spend a day taking the shuttle around Yosemite Valley & hiking some of the valley. If you can, add more time to your stay there!

Spirit Vision Photography Loc: Behind a Camera.

Tuolumne Meadows, Tioga Pass and Bodie are a MUST!

Photocraig

Hi Irve,

I was just at Bass Lake this Fall. Just to get it out of the way, Bass Lake is quite scenic, but developed. Enjoy! It's not hard to figure out. There is a Redwood park just North of Bass Lake and a narrow guage railroad. Good photo ops.


Now, for the park. Since you will be entering onto Wawona Road, you will have about a 40-45 minute drive into the Valley. Since you'll be going in and out of the park, commuter Style, if you're over 62, perchance, the best bargain around is the Golden Eagle Pass which for a reasonable fee (can't remember. I bought it years ago) you can enter National Parks and Monuments without a fee for the entire vehicle. And my experience shows that you get an even bigger welcoming smile from the Rangers. For a week's stay I think it will more than pay for itself. They will give you the weekly newspaper and consult directly where any restrictions and flooding might be.

But, before the Valley is a road to the right (North) to Glacier Point. The BEST view of Half Dome close up. Also along the road to the left is the rim above the valley. MUST photo stops include: Washburn Point also called the Fissures--be careful, but you get to be at the very rim above the valley. And it is almost directly across from Yosemite Falls. Closer to Glacier is Sentinel Dome and the Jeffrey Pine which is deceased but still, I believe standiing, Less photogenic than before. Great vantage for the Eastern end of the Valley. These walks and photos will take up a morning.

On the eastern side of Glacier Rd is the Bridalveil Campground and a trail back to a famous back country 'Hut", the name escapes me, along Bridalveil Creek. Beware of very fast running water all over the Sierra this time of year. It flows under the road and feeds Bridalveil Falls which descends into the valley. That's best viewed and photographed from the valley floor--again fast running ice cold alpine water is dangerous. (BTW: Similar cautions apply for ALL the water including Yosemite Cr. and Falls, Vernal Falls and even the rather wide but very fast in Spring Merced River.) Also, beware of possible flooding at the Upper Merced and Curry Village campgrounds.

Consult the expert advice in the Yosemite Photo books referred to above, and the great resources att he Ansel Adams Gallery where there are Photographer led Photographer's walks a couple of time a week and a treasure trove of advice, tips and general encouragement. My take-away from my walks is that granite has many highly reflective bits in it and it tends to reflect light more than its apparent grey color would suggest. Meter readings with lots of sun facing Granite surfaces will tend to call for under exposure--similar to snow. So, experiment and when shooting that way, prepare to compensate by opening 1/2 to 11/2 stops. CHIMP!!!!

More questions, PM me,
Craig

Photocraig

The Pass is Tioga Pass. This has been an epic Snow year, so check it out. How do you intend to enter the park? From the East--US 395 or from the West from Merced in the Central Valley? I suggest Merced for the easiest Bass Lake access. I live in Reno/Sparks and my preference is 395, but go where you can affect easiest access. May should not get you into Chain restrictions but ya NEVER know in the High Sierra. If you're driving an All wheel of Four Wheel vehicle you'll be OK. If you're flying and renting a car, go for an AWD or 4WD option. It will cost more, but the peace of mind is worth it. It is snowing right now just up the hill from my house.
Remember out West, the "Snow Line"refers to ALTITUDE much more that Latitude.

James R. Kyle Loc: Saint Louis, Missouri (A Suburb of Ferguson)

Wonderful place... I have referred Yosemite as the "Cathedral of Saint Ansel of The Merced". Been there about 7 times in my life ... Always want to go back. I can not do the trails too much anymore, but that does not deter me from going. Took the bus tour once, that was good as I did not have to find parking. You can do your own "Tour-Setup" by taking the "Hiker's Bus". in this way you may not be on a set time to do things that YOU want.... Just be aware of the LAST bus time of where you are. The last time I was there was in April of 2015... It snowed and rained on and off -- However.... That is good as so called "Bad Weather" means good photographic possibilities. Here are a three of mine from that trip.....

"Tunnel View" overlook


"Glacier Point" overlook


"Yosemite Falls"

27ftWhaler

You should probably plan for photography in the valley. There is really no chance that Tioga road will be open in May since there is 30-60 feet of snow on that road. The park service is predicting the road may not be open until the July 4th weekend and they are not even taking reservations at the Tuolumne campground until August 1st. Glacier road also may not be open although that usually does open before Tioga road opens. If you are driving from the East you cannot use Tioga road for entry into the park until they remove that snow. Coming from the west is also problematic since there have been some severe rockfalls that have closed Rt. 120 and I think one other road. Check the Yosemite website for road closures. Now if you do get into the park. It's going to be an awesome year for the waterfalls.

OhD Loc: West Richland, WA

Listening to diesel refrigerator trucks racketing away behind the lodge and Curry Co. Store kind of compromised the grandeur and the wilderness aspect of the wall climbing when I made the pilgrimage there in about 1974. Tourists gotta have ice cream, though...

SteveR Loc: Michigan

OhD....The quietest place I've ever been is Randolph AFB in San Antonio. Took a trip there with my Dad and son and stayed in the BOQ on my Dad's DOD i.d. At night there wasn't a sound to be heard......except for the darned air conditioner outside......ruined it all!!

photoman022 Loc: Manchester CT USA

Remember that there are two "parts" to Yosemite: lower Yosemite and upper Yosemite (in the higher Sierras). I was there last September, after Labor Day. Upper Yosemite was relatively crowd free. I was up in that part of the Park for two days and had unobstructed views (i.e. no milling people) in my photos. The third day we hit lower Yosemite and could barely find parking spaces. I would have like to stay in lower Yosemite longer, but the traffic congestion made the going slow (very slow) and we wanted to get to the coast and see our grandson (the primary reason for the trip) and I left crowded lower Yosemite with few photos and no regrets.