Yosemite Firefall Startrails ©2021. Janelle Orth

Yosemite's Firefall is a unique event. As the sun sets in mid-February El Capitan casts a shadow on the cliff face, but Horsetail Falls remains illuminated until the sun goes below the horizon. This selective lighting gives the illusion of hot, fiery lava flowing over the cliffs edge.
For the star trails, I kept the camera going past sunset (for about two hours). Each star shows as a small light, and when composited together, you can see their path in the sky. (165 images to create star trails).

YosemiteFirefallStar TrailsEl CapitanCaliforniaNorthern CaliforniaNational ParkLandmarkJanelle Orth Photographywaterfallhorsetail fallstrees naturenaturaleveningduskepic eventannual eventrare