Once a year, for a brief period when just the right combination of circumstances align, Horsetail Fall in Yosemite National Park catches late afternoon light in way that transforms the waterfall into an apparent ribbon of fire.

The challenge of seeing and documenting this elusive light show brings a swarm of photographers and videographers to the park each February, though the 7- to 10-day window of opportunity varies from year to year.

When are optimal conditions anticipated in 2012? Veteran outdoor photographer Michael Frye, with more than 25 years of experience of shooting in the park, estimates that Feb. 16-23 could be this year's best stretch of days—though he says he reserves the right to update his outlook. Read his complete forecast in this report from his blog.

To better understand why this annual spectacle attracts such large numbers of camera-toting pilgrims, view the following overview by Yosemite videographer Steve Bumgardner (aka Yosemite Steve), created for the park's splendid short-film series, Yosemite Nature Notes.

If you have attempted to capture images of Horsetail Fall at this time of year, what tips do you have to share with other aspiring photographers and videographers?

Photo below courtesy © Michael Frye.