In January of 2017, I traveled to Yosemite with a very specific intention: to photograph winter scenes inspired by the work of Ansel Adams. I wanted to see the valley the way he did—quiet, cold, stripped down to light, shadow, and form.
This photograph is of Three Brothers, one of Yosemite’s most iconic rock formations. I pulled my rental truck off the side of the road, layered up with every piece of winter gear I had, slung my backpack over my shoulder, and hiked through the trees and down toward the Merced River. The water was nearly frozen, slow and dark, and when I found this spot, the reflection was almost perfect—sharp peaks mirrored in stillness.
I stayed there for hours. Completely immersed. Watching the light shift across the granite, fine-tuning the foreground. The cold was real. The silence even more so. There’s something about winter in Yosemite that removes distraction—it forces you to be present.
The composition of Three Brothers has always fascinated me. The staggered peaks naturally create depth and rhythm, pulling the eye from left to right, while the reflection doubles that structure and brings balance to the frame. The trees and river act as quiet anchors, keeping the image grounded while the granite towers above.
The walk back was long. I knew my hands were numb and turning blue, but it wasn’t until I started the truck and saw the thermometer read 18 degrees that it really sank in.
I still love this photograph—not just for how it looks, but for what it required. The effort. The patience. The cold. Years later, it’s the experience of making the image that stays with me just as much as the image itself.
Originally shared on Instagram on December 18, 2025. Photography and story by Mark Middleton.