Yosemite National Park is home to some of the most powerful and photogenic waterfalls in the world. In the spring, as snowmelt rushes down from the Sierra Nevada, these falls reach their peak, creating dramatic displays of mist, movement, and raw energy. This photography expedition is designed to capture Yosemite’s waterfalls in their most spectacular form—from the towering drop of Upper Yosemite Falls to the delicate, windblown streams of Bridalveil Fall. And when night falls, we’ll take our cameras into the dark to photograph one of nature’s rarest optical phenomena: the Moonbow—a lunar rainbow that appears in the mist of Yosemite’s waterfalls under a bright, full moon.

Shooting waterfalls presents a dynamic challenge. We’ll experiment with shutter speeds to transform fast-moving torrents into silky ribbons or freeze individual droplets in midair. Light conditions shift constantly as the sun rises, clouds pass, and the mist swirls—making each moment unique. Lower Yosemite Falls, with its thundering plunge into a rocky basin, offers incredible close-up compositions, while Valley View lets us step back and capture waterfalls framed by the towering granite walls of the valley. Along the Merced River, we’ll find reflections, textures, and smaller cascades that add depth and variety to our collection of images.

At night, we’ll set up for an entirely different kind of waterfall photography. Moonbows—caused by moonlight refracting in the mist—are rarely visible to the naked eye but can be revealed with long-exposure photography. Yosemite is one of the best places in the world to witness this phenomenon, and Lower Yosemite Falls is the ultimate stage for it. Under the right conditions, the camera captures a glowing, multicolored arc in the darkness, something that few photographers have the opportunity to document. These nighttime shoots require precise timing and technical adjustments, adding an extra layer of skill and creativity to the experience.

Over the course of six days, we’ll fine-tune techniques for shooting moving water, explore different compositions, and work with changing light to bring out the drama of Yosemite’s waterfalls. Whether capturing the first light hitting Bridalveil Fall or Yosemite Falls, dogwoods blooming along the Merced River, or the ghostly radiance of a Moonbow, this trip is an opportunity to engage deeply with the natural forces that shape Yosemite’s landscape. Every location we visit will be chosen for its potential to showcase water in motion—one of the most dynamic and rewarding subjects in landscape photography!