jdub82 Loc: Northern California

One of the great things about visiting Yosemite in October, is that it is not as crowded that time of year. Though the falls tend to be very low, they are opportunities for great photos everywhere. Yosemite is where I first developed a love for photography in my youth. There is never a lack for something to photograph in Yosemite. Yosemite Valley is the heart of the Park and is usually the focus of most visits. Beauty is all around you, and the iconic granite mountain peaks are a sight to behold. Typically, I use my 18-135mm lens in Yosemite. Some zoom is helpful, but wide angle will also be important at times. Don't miss visiting Glacier Point. It will give you a breathtaking birds eye view of the Park, including Yosemite Valley. A couple of the water falls that can only be accessed directly via a substantial hike, Vernal Falls and Nevada Falls, are visible from Glacier Point.

srfmhg Loc: Marin County, CA

Make sure to sign up for the photography walk at the Ansel Adams Gallery in Yosemite Village. Here are a few shot I took on the walk.

https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-514813-1.html

David in Dallas Loc: Dallas, Texas, USA

Lots of cute ground squirrels, all eager to pose.

Photocraig

Yosemite valley is the hub of the park. That's where all the people go. Thery hae he stores, hotels, gas stations etc. It is also where the Ansel Adams Gallery and photo center is. Check them out for photo guides, workshops and walks. It is also where most of the iconic views are from El Capitan, Half Dome and more. Any walk off the paved walkways onto a maintained "trail' will cut the population by 85%. Even the crowded walkway to Yosemite Falls which resembles 5th Avenue during the Easter Parade can be circumvented by parallel trails, level and flat, just 300 yards on either side. NOW!! you get the waterfall photo with valley floor as a foreground rather than 1,000 variable width backsides. The same is true for all of the iconic subjects. Everything is line of sight in the Valley, you have to try (but can succeed) to get lost.

The Valley is where the eco-friendly FREE Shuttle busses run and the Glacier Point Shuttle departs. Find a shady place to park, use sun reflectors and get on the bus, get off at each stop. Find a trail and get away from the people. Just 100 steps and the silence is overwhelming.And you will see birds, marmots, Pikas and in morning and evening even deer.

Tere may not be a better road with views and sede trails than the Tioga Road ll the way to tioga Meadows and beyond. Read the guide books and maps and have fun.

TIP: Granite is made up of tiny Mica pieces that act ad mirror pieces all jumbled up. That yields 360 degrees fo reflection of an already high altitude strong sunlight--bound to be clear most of October. Inside of Yosemite--ALL OF IT--I usually meter either Partial or spot. Because the bright sky and the shiny granite will have a tendency to blow out shots or meter over bright and underexpose a smaller subject. Some folks use Exposure compensation - 2/3rds of a stop. Raise teh subject at the Photo Gallery and store. Shoot RAW! USE a CPL and maybe an ND. Definitely be prepared to do panoramas and HDR's--that should help with the bright skies and bright schist (midca in the Granite).

While Golden Hours exist (Blue too), Valley shots because of the Valley wall height and orientation usually don't benefit from the magical light as much as photos taken outside of the Valley.

Glacier Point Rd. is driveable to the Parking area looking at Half Dome. Can be crowded. There is a wonderful trail that parallels the road going all the way to Taft Point. These ore the equivalent points of view to rooftops in a city. Beware, there are fissures and this is a few thousand feet above the valley floor, so watch your step. Yosemite Falls, from here, is an entirely different perspective. You'll also have a chance to cross Bridalveil Creek that feeds the falls on this side of eh valley. This trail could occupy an entire year's book project, so you won't get bored.

Across the Glacier Point Rd. is Bridal Veil Creek Campground and a trail the follows the Creek to the Ostrander Hut. even 20 minutes along this trail will bring you photographic opportunities unavailable nearly anyplace else--with such easy access.

However, the real Yosemite is vast and outside the Valley. The real challenge, even for those of us who can drive there relatively easily, is how to limit or concentrate on the best set of subjects for our photo time. Many top pros have lived in Yosemite for years, taught classes, did personal projects, published books and each will tell you that they feel they have only begun to explore the plae photographically. I can't emphasize enough, even for a solo Photographer on a mission, to study the works of others, learn the geography before hand and PLAN. All the more if you're vacationing with normal people who get up at 7, expect to eat breakfast--at all- or leisurely, etc. Without a plan you won't get the uninterrupted time in hour increments to enjoy this natural wonder the way you would like.

I have a friend who had his family leave him in Yosemite for 3 days while they went to San Francisco to enojy the sights, and then return with the car to pick him up on the way home. He was in PHOTO HEAVEN for those days. He told me. privately, that they were the best time he'd ever had--shhhh don't tell wifey!>

Spirit Vision Photography Loc: Behind a Camera.

You will have a great time. The shuttle system is great. Arrive early, park your car and leave it. Use the shuttle.

the hiker Loc: San Diego

since you are not going until oct. I would p/u the book by Michael Frye ; The Photographers Guide To Yosemite . $13.00 new at any bookstore or go to Amazon and buy it used. IT will tell you everything you need to know to take great pictures in Yosemite w/o wasing a lot of time riding around. I hope you have a great trip Yosemite is a beautiful place no matter when you go.

Spirit Vision Photography Loc: Behind a Camera.

Take a day and do the “Cables Hike” up the backside of Half Dome. Use the Mist Trail approach to save time. Apply for your free permit, NOW! The view from the summit of the Dome is very nice. It overlooks the Valley.