Icons of the Sierra

Yosemite National Park is a crown jewel of the Sierra Nevada, where massive granite cliffs, thundering waterfalls, and ancient forests create one of the most awe-inspiring landscapes in America.

This gallery captures iconic views of El Capitan and Half Dome at the edges of the day, when the warm light illuminates their sheer faces. It includes El Capitan at night, with the tiny lights of climbers camped on the rock face, Vernal Fall with its banded sheer wall, and a special wildlife moment — a bobcat I spotted near Lower Yosemite Fall who was kind enough to pose for me.

Spending time in Yosemite always leaves me with a strong sense of how powerful and quiet nature can be at the same time.