After four years of patience and persistence, I finally captured this image. The conditions had to be just right—just enough water trickling down the eastern edge of El Capitan, the sun hitting at the perfect angle, and clear skies overhead.

That evening, the skies were mostly clear, and everything seemed to be aligning. Sunset was at 5:39 pm, but around 5:00 pm, clouds rolled in, casting a shadow over the granite face. By 5:30 pm, some of the photographers around me began to lose hope and started packing up. Then, at 5:36 pm, the clouds unexpectedly parted, allowing the sun to break through and set Horsetail Falls ablaze. The fiery orange glow lasted less than two minutes—a fleeting but unforgettable moment.

Location: Horsetail Falls, Yosemite National Park

Captured: February 18th, 2023