ANSEL ADAMS

Presentation by Taylor Ferguson

“A true photograph

need not be

explained, nor can it

be contained in words.”-

Ansel Adams

The Tetons- Snake River

The Man Behind the Mountains

The Life of Ansel Adams (1902-1984)

Ansel Adams was born in San Francisco, California, on February 20th, 1902.

Adams first visited Yosemite National Park in 1916.

His original career choice was to be a famous concert pianist. He taught himself how to play at the age of 12.

The Story of the Nose

At the age of four, during an aftershock of the San Francisco earthquake of 1906, the young Adams was thrown headlong into a wall. The impact shattered his nose. Never having it reset, Adams’ nose remained crooked for the rest of his life.

Ansel Adams in Photography Adams began to

experiment with photography after his trip to Yosemite in 1916.

Adams’ first success came with the publication of his first portfolio, which included the now famous “Monolith, the Face of Half-Dome”.

Monolith, the Face of Half-Dome

Ansel Adams in Photography (cont.)

Between 1929 and 1942, Adams’ work and reputation developed in the world of photography. 

He became friends with artists including Alfred Stieglitz, Georgia O’Keeffe, Dorthea Lang, and Paul Strand.

Taos Pueblo Church

This photo incorporates mirror-like symmetry and interesting negative space.

Who influenced Ansel Adams?

“Albert M. Bender, a San Francisco insurance magnate and patron of arts and artists…” (anseladams.com).

Paul Strand Mary Austin Edward Weston Alfred Stieglitz

Georgia O’Keeffe and Orville Cox

Who did Adams influence?

The people who had an impact on Adams were generally also influenced by him.

Edward Weston Paul Strand

Jeffrey Pine

The tree is framing the mountains and the rule of odds is exhibited with the combination of branches and rocks.

The Zone System

Ansel Adams, together with Fred Archer, created, developed, and introduced the complex technique known as the zone system into the world of photography.

“You don’t take a photograph, you make it.”- Ansel

Adams

Mt. Moran, Teton National Park

This photo emits a serene and peaceful feeling, using symmetry, rule of odds, and a soft contrast of grayscale.

The Zone System (cont.)

It consisted of controlling and relating exposure and development, enabling photographers to creatively visualize an image and produce a photograph that matched and expressed that visualization.

Half Dome, Apple Orchard, Yosemite

This photo uses a high-key contrast

to show of the stark bareness of the landscape.

Group f/64 Adams founded the

Group f/64 along with fellow photographers Willard Van Dyke and Edward Weston.

It was comprised of 7 San Francisco photographers who were attempting to promote a new “Modernist” aesthetic.

Oak Tree, Sunset City, California

I love the eerie feeling this photo gives off. Even though the tree is in the center of the frame, the branches work the golden points.

The Members of Group f/64 Ansel Adams Imogen Cunningham John Paul Edwards Sonya Noskowiak Henry Swift Willard Van Dyke Edward Weston

Roaring Mountain, Yellowstone National Park

The contrast in this photo is very defined. It gives of an aura of foreboding and death.

An Interesting Point of View

Adams took most of his photographs from the roof of his Cadillac “woody” station wagon.

Others On Ansel Adams

"He set himself problems of extreme depth of focus and of extreme rendition of textures”(Nancy Newhall).

"The Rock of Ages in the Big Room”

The negative space and texture of this photo is interesting. It also incorporates the rule of thirds and exemplifies dominance and subordination.

Things You Probably Didn’t Know

Ansel Adams did a brief commission as a street photographer in the 1940’s.

Cole and Dorothy Weston

Residents of the Olympic

Trailer Court in Santa Monica

relax and play with their dog

outside their trailer.

Manzanar

Adams did a commission at the war relocation center in Manzanar, California.

Mrs. Naguchi and two children, Manzanar Relocation Center

Baseball game at Manzanar, 1943

Adams in the Caverns

Ansel Adams had the opportunity to shoot in the Carlsbad Caverns of New Mexico.

"In the Queen's Chamber"

"The Chinese Pagoda, Big Room, detail"

Both photos have interesting negative space and texture.

Adams in Yellowstone Ansel Adams shot photographs of

Yellowstone National Park for the National Parks Service.

"Central Geyser Basin,

Yellowstone National

Park”

"Old Faithful Geyser, Yellowstone National Park”

Both photos show extreme contrasts in color and also in the

elements. Old Faithful almost looks cold, even though it is a

boiling geyser. Central Geyser Basin combines water and fire to make steam.

Adams in Yosemite

Adams is generally best known for his photographs of Yosemite National Park.

Yosemite Valley, Clearing Winter Storm

This photo combines the textures of both the soft, fluffy clouds, and the sharp, well-defined mountains within them.

Adams in Yosemite (cont.)

I love this picture because it combines both the natural elements of the mountain and the river, and man made element of the bridge.

Adams in Yosemite (cont.)Yosemite FallsBoth of these photos incorporate the

rule of thirds, as well as interesting negative space.

Yosemite Valley

Works Cited

The American Experience. PBS, 2009. Web. 16 March, 2013.

Ansel Adams Photographs. Records of the National Parks Service, N/A. Web. 16 March, 2013.

Ansel Adams Wilderness. National Geographic, 2013. Web. 16

March, 2013.

Works Cited (cont.)

Ansel Adams Quick Biography. Drowlord.com, 2005. Web. 16 March, 2013.

Ansel Adams, Street Photographer: 1940s Los Angeles. The Picture Show, 2013. Web. 16 March, 2013.

The Best of Ansel Adams. The History Place, N/A. Web. 16 March, 2013.

Works Cited (cont.)

Ansel Adams Quotes, Brainy Quote. 2013. Web. 16 March, 2013.

Ansel Adams Biography, The Ansel Adams Gallery. 2013. Web. 16 March, 2013.