Toronto Photography Meetup Group

Has anybody from this board been there before? If so, any advice on what to expect, best time to go, and how to prepare for such a trip? I just watched a documentary from National Geographic on Yosemite and I'm tempted to make it part of this year's travels. Group trip maybe???

I was toying with the idea of Yosemite as an option for an April trip. Also on the menu was Bryce Canyon, Baja, Cuba or some beach vacation. Undecided...

Yosemite, San Fran, Monterey Bay... drive down hwy 1 (considered one of the most if not the most scenic in NA).

Fantastic trip!

I did a photo workshop in Yosemite during April thru the Ansel Adams Gallery. The trees were starting to bud but the waterfalls were flowing. The park also isn't that crowded and you can drive around rather than relying on the park transit. The year I went, one of the roads was closed due to a landslide so some photo ops were out.

A good guide I had picked up is this book which does give you ideas of where to be and at what time;
http://www.amazon.ca/Photographers-Guid ... 045&sr=8-2

This site also gives you some good ideas about what hikes to do and what you will see along the way;
http://www.yosemitehikes.com/

If you are thinking of staying in the park - book early and be prepared to pay a lot unless you are looking to camp.

BTW, night photography there is spectacular especially if there is a full moon!

Yosemite is good just about any time of the year. We went one summer about 10 years ago, but I've always wanted to go back.

Are you a hiker/backcountry camper? Or do you prefer a more comfortable stay? What kind of photography do you like?

Yosemite is probably the most beautiful/exciting when the weather isn't the best, and it can snow just about any time outside of July/Aug.

I would so be down for a group trip if someboady planned a tpmg even Im sure it would splits costs in half atleast!

Never been, though I had toyed with the idea when I planned my California trip last March. I found that March was not an ideal time to go (closed roads, inaccessible areas) though it sounded awesome. I would have been up for a group trip, except I'm heading to Utah this March, and probably wouldn't be able to afford a second trip. And of course, I can only travel at certain times during the year....

I was there in Feb a couple of years ago. I was expecting horrible road condition but it turns out to be not that bad. Maybe I was just lucky. I stayed at the Curry Village in a heating tent for only $45 a night. That would be the cheapest you can find in the valley. I highly recommend to stay in the valley because that will save you precious time not to have to drive in the morning. I would love to go back again.

I haven't done any camping in many, many years, but I am not against the idea of "roughing-it" for a while. I would actually love to get a RV and drive down the entire coast as carbon suggested, but I'd love to do it from BC all the way down. Yeah I know, lofty dreams.
To answer your other question Kin Lau, I can't really say that I'm a landscape photographer. It's mostly general photography of whatever interests me or if I see something beautiful or inspiring (right now it's mostly baby pics of my new niece.) I think being able to touch and photograph a sequoia tree that's over a thousand years old is a big draw for me.
Anyway, I think if enough of us are interested, we could plan something out.
Sue, maybe you can plan a class field trip for the same time??? Yeah I know, from lofty dreams to crazy thoughts.
Oh, and thanks for the link to the guide LumLui, I'll have to check it out.

If you want waterfalls you have to go in April, but then some roads will be closed. So when you go depends on what you want to see and photograph.