Customer Reviews

The Photographer's Guide to Yosemite

5 star:		(32)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

We visited Yosemite in July and took this book along. It provided tons of useful information about where and when to get great shots, and directions to each spot. It was very useful, and at the price is also a real bargain.

While there, I did a Photo Walking Tour with a pro photographer who works in Yosemite, arranged through the Ansel Adams Gallery. To my surprise, during our hike she pulled a well-worn copy of *this* book out of her backpack and cited it as a good reference for shooting photos in Yosemite -- so that would be another helpful endorsement for it.

This book is a treat. Every page is in full color, with plenty of inspiring pictures to whet your appetite. But the really valuable aspect is that Frye describes exactly where, when, and how he got each shot. Frye is quite generous in sharing what he's learned about many locations in Yosemite during each season; he's lived there for over 20 years, so he knows what he's talking about. There's also a very practical discussion of photographic technique, yet the whole volume is remarkably compact for portability.

Highly recommended!

...It has illustrations for all kinds of photographic techniques including advice on seasons, film, lenses needed, important time of days etc. Definitely worth buying it. You can finish reading this book in couple of hours in car while somebody else is driving. i did the same. In my opinion it would really help if the authur included some kind of readmap you can follow so that u can be at right places at right time. (although considering the vastness of yosemite, i am sure it will be a difficult job) All in all great little book. i would recommend to buy it in advance...to take full advantage of authur's suggessions.

I love this book!! Thank-you to Michael Frye for taking on this project. I hope he goes to other national parks and writes more books. Michael not only shows photos and tells where to get them, he goes into great detail about what time of day, type of film, use of filters, depth of field, exposure... everything a "professional photographer-in-the-making" can use.

During my first visit to Yosemite this book was a lifesaver. I expected that the pull-outs, parking lots, and viewpoints in the Yosemite Valley would be well signed. They are not well signed. I would certainly not have been able to find or photograph many of the spectacular features of the Yosemite valley without the guidance of this book (okay, I probably could have managed, but the book made it MUCH easier). It was easily worth the price. The information about where and when (time of day as well as season) to shoot particular features was spot on from my limited experience. The photographs in the book are nice and give you an idea of what you will find at each viewpoint. The size of the book is great as it fit nicely in my camera backpack.

That said buyers should be aware that the main focus of this book is photography in Yosemite valley. Yosemite NP is a big place with many things to see and do. This book has extensive coverage of the Yosemite valley and highlights the best stuff in other areas of the park. Its treatment of hiking trails is brief as it hits only the highlights again. It is a great book at helping you photograph the amazingly beautiful Yosemite valley and the best stuff in the rest of Yosemite NP. If you are looking for information about less traveled spots in Yosemite NP or hiking trails then you should look elsewhere.

I go to Yosemite evey 2nd year or so to shoot landscapes for a week. I saw this guide on my first trip. The author lived in the park for years, and has shot it in all seasons and weather conditions. I think there is literally no aspect of photgraphy in Yosemite which is not clearly addressed. If you want to shoot good pictures in and around Yosemete, this book will cut down planning and running around to minimum and guide you to some of the best photos you've ever taken. I cannot say enough good things about it.

There are many glowing reviews of this book and it does provide the goods on how and where to go to get good shots. The maps (5) and sections are also quite simple to read. In addition, the sequential numbering of the points of interest is a help.

I was disappointed to find so much coverage of photographic technique. While some technique discussions directly relate to the unique character of Yosemite (for example talking about color and the lack of it in granite) most of it feels more like filler, and indeed makes it harder to navigate to the sections of interest.

The book also lacks an index so the only useful navigation tool is the brief table of contents. Without that table of contents it would be hard to find any particular section and even with it, you're going to have to resort to man-made book marks to find what you want. For example if Pohono Bridge and Fern Spring caught your fancy but you didn't remember to book mark it or remember its number you'll have to resort to scanning all of the maps and/or all of the numbered interest points because despite the page of content, there is no entry for this viewpoint in the table of contents (and remember there is no index).

I would prefer the maps be all together at the front or back so that it would work better as a reference book. I would also have liked to see some more examples of "out of the way" hikes to desirable vistas.

Finally, I would like the author to have provided some sort of "effort vs eye-appeal" rating to help me focus on which sunrise locations are the "not to miss" areas and which are "ok". Perhaps the author can even suggest a few itineraries. These more useful descriptions could readily replace the "choosing film" techniques section and others like it that are a bit basic and detract from the otherwise good "where and when" information.

By comparison, I also own Harold Davis's book "The Photographer's Guide to Yosemite & the High Sierra" and Laurent Marte's "Photographing the Southwest" series. I find Harold's book more accessible (it has an index, for example), and more location specificity. Compared against Laurent Martre's "Photographing the Southwest," the Frye book does not reach a similar level of usefulness. "The Photographer's Guide to Yosemite" feels more like "How to Take Pictures in Yosemite".

Michael Frye has done a wonderful job guiding the photographer be they a novis or pro through most of Yoesmities jewels. His experience and wisdom of the art of photography are real treasures that make this book a "must" for anyone traveling to the area. Yosemites beauity and tips to capture it in pictures are explained in simple yet profound detail.

I recently returned from a trip to Yosemite. I have to admit that I carried this book with me in my camera bag. It was literally that valuable that I did not leave the lodge without it. There are detailed instructions on where to go, when to go and how long it will take you to get there. The hiking instructions are right on, down to which switchbacks to follow. I especially liked the information on times to shoot the photos. The books tells you "Best Months" and "Best Light" for each location. The author also includes helpful informational topics, such as "Photographing Waterfalls", "Photographing Rainbows", and "Night Photography". Advanced photographers will not find this information useful, however, the novice will. In summary, this is the best $8.95 you can spend if you want great Yosemite photos!

This is a great book. It is filled with info that you can get great shots in Yosemite NP area. The author also shares some things he learned through years of experiences, like where to expect rainbow when you go shoot a waterfall and how to use polarized filter when shooting rainbow. All in-valuable information that I never see from many other more expensive photography books.

You can also plan you photography activities around the Yosemite with the help of this book and make the best out of your Yosemite trips.

I have been to Yosemite more than 6 or 7 time times. I have another trip this weekend. I really wish I have bought this book years ago.

This is one of the best $10 I have spent. I highly recommend this book before you visit Yosemite.

[Updated 6/8/2010]
I actually received the book from Amazon on 6/4/2010. Went to Yosemite on 6/6/2010 and I am back now. I'm so glad to share with you that the information for this book is SO ACCURATE. I went to Bridalveil Fall at the time the book suggested, 1 to 3 hours before sunset, in order to see the rainbow in the fall. When I walked toward the fall from the parking lot, there was another photographer also walking toward the fall. I told him the book said there should be a rainbow in the base of the fall. When we got closer, there indeed was a rainbow. The book also said the rainbow will move higher as the sun gets lower. I waited another hour, and the rainbow did get higher. I finally decided to go to the rainbow (hesitated in the beginning since everyone came out there wet.) And that's the best rainbow I ever see in my life. The rainbow was so bright and vivid and it ended just 10 feet right in front of my feet. What a day and what a rainbow! There was another lady who standing in the water (from the fall), refusing to leave while waiting for her husband to get her camera.

(BTW, if you want to take a photo of that rainbow, you need something to protect your camera and lenses.)

I highly recommend this book if you will visit Yosemite National Park and like to take good photos. Buy and read it before the trip.