Ansel Adams Pictures Changed Photography Forever

The soul of Ansel Adams pictures reveiled a true environmentalist at heart. Come explore the adventure that was this man's life from a very early age. His life was an adventure with a purpose. Every photograph was complete only when it could portray the awesome wonder Ansel felt as he looked upon the landscape before him.

He was 14 the year he met the love of his life. That love was Yosemite National Park and the American wilderness. On that first family outing to the park he was given a Brownie camera by his father. Ansel was off taking pictures of everything trying to capture what he saw in that magical little box. And for the next 50 years he divided his time between San Francisco and Yosemite.

This is the story behind those Ansel Adams pictures and how he went from taking mere shots to preserve memory to creating life changing experiences with his camera. As you read through this article notice that each image is a link. Clicking on an image will take you to a page where you can buy reprints of Ansel Adam's breathtaking photographs.

Summer became the time to make his way back up to Yosemite eager to explore this new landscape and to indulge his new hobby. Ansel was often disappointed in how little his first pictures conveyed the excitement he felt. So he set out teaching himself everything there is to learn about the camera and its different techniques. He even taught himself how to develop pictures and create his own prints.

Monolith, The Face of Half Dome,
Yosemite National Park, 1927

Each summer Ansel ventured further and further up the mountains of Yosemite. Sometimes he traveled on his own sometimes with members of the Sierra Club. On this day in 1927 he was hiking with that very group.

Their hike began at the break of dawn. And, as is the case with many photographers, Ansel would stop and take pictures along the way. Their destination was known as "Diving Board".

Upon reaching their destination there were only two plates left for the camera. This meant he could take only two more pictures. He took one picture then stopped to ponder the scene. Here he stood with the last plate of the day after a hard climb up Silver mountain.

Ansel was struck with the idea to place a red filter on the camera producing the dramatic feeling and sensation that were surrounding him at that moment. The incredible granite monolyth in front of him was to be the picture that truly began Ansel Adam's career as a professional photographer.

He was one of the first photographers to produce effects in the field with filters. He relied greatly on the inspiration of the moment and his intuitive insights to guide him in which tool he would use to produce the desired effect. This picture was a leap forward for Ansel in previsualizing how a print would look when it was complete.

It was a turning point. For the first time he found a way to make a photograph look the way he felt. Two weeks later he wrote in a letter to his wife, Virginia, "My photographs have now reached the stage where they are now worthy of the worlds attention."

That fall his first portfolio of photographs was published in San Francisco by Albert Bender. By 1930 he threw himself headlong into his career as a photographer. And now thanks to art.com we can enjoy a wonderful selection of Ansel Adams Prints. Feel the inspiration of that moment right from your very living room.

Detail And Light
The Adventure Into Fine Art Photography is Born

Rose and Driftwood, Indoors, San Francisco, California

From 1930 to 1935 Ansel grew from a beginning unknown photographer to a well know photographer all over the United States. He moved away from the "Impressionistic" style, printed on textured paper, that was popular at that time to creating photographs printed on high gloss matte finish.

"Photography is really perception. The analytic interpretation of things as they are." Ansel 1931.

He realized, early in his career of photography, that the medium's true power came not by evading reality but by embracing it. And so he set himself to the persuit of extreme focus and extreme rendition of textures to every piece.

These efforts can be seen in the "Rose and Driftwood" fine art print here. Notice the detailed grain in the wood. Each petal so deep in texture you can almost smell it's fragrance. Perhaps you find yourself tempted to reach out and touch those soft petals.

Nancy Newhall, an American photography critic, had this to say about the photograph, "A rose on driftwood indoors on a dark day could glow softly." Nancy Newhall is best known for writing the words to acompany Ansel Adams Photogrphs.

Gradually his photographs began to mean something. They became records of experience as well as of places. You can enjoy even more of Ansel's experiences in prints and posters for your home here.

Pine Forest in Snow,
Yosemite National Park, 1932

Look at this pine forest in snow and you will almost feel your feet get cold. This photograph was probably among the images in his portfolio that he presented to Alfred Stieglitz on a trip to New York in 1933.

"These are some of the finest photographs I have ever seen." Alfred said, after viewing Ansel's portfolio. To be accepted by Alfred was to be accepted as a great artist.

And that is what Ansel aspired to be.

His landscape photographs were unlike any others. Before he chose to make photography his career Ansel aspired to be a concert pianist. He never lost his love of the piano. He often referred to his love of piano as playing a key roll in his ability as a photographer. Ansel had a way of using every tone of black and white on the scale.

Ansel always said, "You can tell it was a good work of art if you remember it afterwards."

His photography skills just began to reach maturity at the onset of the Great Depression. At that time Ansel was criticised by some because he wasn't buying into the depression and refused to photograph social injustices. But he felt he could do better for the world by bringing it the gift of beauty and wonder so abundantly available in nature.

Ansel was about a return of balance to humanity "We need a little earth to stand on, to run through our fingers. Perhaps photography can do this. I'm going to try, anyhow."

Moonrise, Hernandez, New Mexico, 1941

Moonrise at Hernandez, New Mexico was a sample of his work during that time frame. I like to think of this image as Ansel Adams version of a point and shoot moment. He was driving down the highway traveling to an assignment. He saw the light of the moon shining on crosses in the distant field.

Time was of the essence and the light lasted for one shot only. Ansel would refer to this photograph as the photographer being in the present moment at the exact right time.

He saw the moon over the valley and stopped the car jumping out and yelling,

"Grab the tripod! Grab the camera! Hurry! We don't have a lot of time!"

He quickly took the shot that was to become one of his best. There was no time for a second or a third. No time to plan for lighting. It was Ansel's skill of knowing just the right settings for the light available that gave him the opportunity to capture this famous image.

A second later and the light was gone off of the crosses. I wonder if those of us today using our point and shoot camera's would have the presence of mind to take advantage of such a moment.

"Chance favoring the prepared mind" is how he would later refer to it.

Mt. McKinley Range, Clouds, Denali National Park, Alaska, 1948

During the time of World War I and World War II Ansel created murrals for the department of defense. His work shifted to take in enormous space that would lend itself to this type of work. The photographer is tiny compared to where he stands. Ansel’s message is that the world is beautiful and that humanity is part of this life.

"If I felt something stongly I would make a photograph of what I saw and felt." Ansel Adams.

Aspens of Northern Mexico 1958

40% of his work was done in the dark room manipulating the scene till it looked exactly as he remembered. He would spend hours in the dark room manipulating his photos until they were perfect.

He tried to be faithful to how he felt in that scene. And one print would take an entire day.

"When I make a photograph I can quite honestly say that I can see something that is not there in the true meaning of the word." Ansel

This photograph of the Aspens in New Mexico is a fine example of expressing something that is built up from within while it's extracted from without. His was about making the picture that is consonant with his experience not just a place but an expression of the heart.

To Ansel, the photograph became a part of something that is larger. And it is the photographer's task to make a picture that expresses that to the world.

Mr Sierra Club

There was a communion with spirit as he wondered the wilderness for nearly 70 years photographing landscapes as they changed all around him.

And as the wild places came under attack by the encroaching civilization he took that wilderness and brought it to the attention of a booming industry and changed the way people viewed their world around them. He spent hours lobbying congress for stricter laws to protect America's wilderness.

He wrote at least 5,000 letters to the editor in an effort to make a difference. He became known as "Mr Sierra Club" and could meet with the President simply by picking up the phone.

He was worked constantly even into his 80's as an educator and spokesman to keep the dream of our American Heritage alive. He was an environmentalist before caring aoubt our environment became popular. In 1979 he was featured on the cover of Time Magazine.

I could go on forever about this photographer and environmentalist but wouldn't you rather read the words from Ansel Adams himself? I recently watched a video produced by The Sierra Club which is where most of the information in this article came from.

If you love his photographs, your collection will not be complete until you read his autobiography. Why not pick one up by clicking on the book image to your left? You will be taken to Amazon where you can choose between new and used selections of Ansel Adams: An Autobiography

The photographs throughout this article were chosen to give you an idea of the birth and growth of one of America's greatest fine art photogrphers. I would be proud to decorate every wall in my home with his photographs. If you feel the same way be sure and check out Ansel Adams Prints where you can choose from a variety of sizes to fit all of your decorating needs.