Capturing the Magic of the Moonbow at Yosemite Falls

Yosemite National Park transforms with each season, offering photographers a new canvas to explore. I'm fortunate to live nearby, allowing me to conduct workshops throughout the year. Each season brings its own character — autumn dresses the landscape in reds and golds reflected in the slow-moving Merced River, while winter rejuvenates the waterfalls under a blanket of snow. Spring stands out with booming waterfalls, blooming dogwoods, and picturesque vernal pools. These seasonal changes not only shape the park's beauty but also the photographic opportunities available to those who venture in.

In every workshop, I can often coordinate with lunar events that complement the season's unique features. During the spring, a noteworthy event occurs when a full moon aligns with a waterfall, producing a moonbow, especially at Lower Yosemite Fall. Historically, I have scheduled two workshops around this phenomenon; however, I've streamlined this to one key full moon period in early April to early May, as the optimal conditions for moonbow photography are limited to this timeframe. While a full moon can create a moonbow from late March to June, many challenges arise, including erratic water levels and unforeseen weather conditions that affect visibility.

Thinking back to previous years, I recall leading a PBS Newshour film crew during the 2015 drought, which severely diminished Yosemite's waterfalls. As we adapted to these challenges, the documentary stressed the significance of those water levels. Fast forward to 2026, as I prepared for the workshop with the upcoming moonbow, a sudden shift in weather brought cold storms that replenished the Sierra Nevada snowpack and revitalized the park's waterfalls just before our time there.

The night before our workshop, I hoped for minimal cloud cover to allow optimal moonbow visibility. Although Yosemite's waterfalls were low for the season — typically peaking around May 1 — there was still sufficient water to generate the necessary mist required for a moonbow at Lower Yosemite Fall.

During the workshop, group members were treated to multiple daylight rainbows before sunset. My concern lay with the moonbow, particularly as one attendee, Kent, had returned for the third time solely to capture this elusive moment. The workshop's penultimate evening allowed us to gear up for a moonbow shoot, and I ensured everyone was well-prepared with photography tips for moonlight conditions.

We kicked off the evening shooting the sunset with the full moon rising beautifully over Bridalveil Fall, capturing breathtaking images in a heightened sense of anticipation for the moonbow set to emerge later. As darkness enveloped the valley, we made our way to the bridge at the base of Lower Yosemite Fall.

Despite the underwhelming water flow that year, the moonbow surprised us all with its vibrance and definition. Typically, a more substantial waterfall creates a broader mist, but the smaller volume unveiled a unique advantage: less mist meant clearer shooting conditions devoid of the relentless spray that can sometimes veil the lens. Visitors were present, but crowding was manageable, allowing my participants to set up comfortably.

When capturing the moonbow, I advised everyone to set their lenses to the widest possible focal length to make composition easier in low light, while also allowing for cropping in post-processing without sacrificing image quality. Focus is often the greatest challenge during night shoots, so maintaining the widest angle remedied many issues during our session; achieving sharp focus from the very start was essential for the success of each photograph.

I spent much of that evening assisting individual participants, checking their equipment, and ensuring everything was well-adjusted. Personally, I made it a point to capture a few frames, using my 14mm prime lens for a composition that included sweeping sky vistas above the falls while capturing the moonlit creek below — my aim was to embrace the landscape's beauty in its entirety.

This year's moonbow captured was smaller than in wetter years due to the lower waterfall flow but was still enough to impress. Our time photographing the moonbow was finite, roughly 40 minutes at its peak visibility, yet the group experienced this ethereal moment together, and everyone left with successful captures in hand.

I found joy in the fact that Kent, having attempted the workshop multiple times, finally achieved the moonbow photo of his dreams. The exhilaration of capturing this atmospheric wonder in such a beautiful location resonates deeply within each participant. The next day, during our image review session, the group proudly shared their moonbow photographs, showcasing their unique perspectives. The camaraderie and collective success added to the magic of the experience.

In conclusion, each season presents new challenges and rewards for photographers in Yosemite. Capturing the fleeting beauty of the moonbow under the unique conditions of 2026 reminds us that nature often offers surprises when we least expect them. With fewer visitors and manageable weather, this year's experience proved the power of patience and passion in photography. Those looking to join me in exploring these opportunities are welcome, and I encourage others to appreciate nature and all its complexities as beloved subjects of their art.

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