Ansel Adams
It would hardly be worth discussing Landscape photography (or B&W photography) without mentioning Ansel Adams. Born in 1902 in San Francisco, his photos have become some of the most recognised and awe-inspiring landscapes ever taken. His most well known shots were taken at Yosemite National Park, California. Having visited Yosemite myself it is very easy why he came back time after time to take photos all year round. The park is home to some spectacular waterfalls, valleys and some of the oldest and largest trees in the world. In fact these Sequoia trees are up to 1800 years old and some are large enough to drive cars through the (removed) middle – which is what they have done. It is not hard to see how, with this type of scenery, Adams would have fallen in love with nature, hiking and taking photographing the beautiful vistas. In 1948, on reflecting on his first experiences of the Yosemite and nearby Sierra Nevada, he wrote:
“That first impression of the Valley – white water, azaleas, cools fir caverns, tall pines and stolid oaks, cliffs rising to undreamed –of heights, the poignant sounds and smells of the Sierra...was a culmination of experience so intense as to be almost painful. From that day in 1916, my life has been colour and modulated by the great earth-gesture of the sierra”
According to his biography on his website, it was 1927 which was significant marker in his photographic career. It was then that he took his first ‘fully visualised’ photos in Yosemite and flourished under the patronage of Albert M. Bender. It was soon after this that Adams began to flourish, and develop is style of ‘straight photography.’ The effect he was able achieve with this was that the ‘clarity of the lens was emphasized, and the final print gave no appearance of being manipulated in the camera or the darkroom.’ It was not long after this that he and fellow photographer - Edward Weston- founded the f/64 club, dedicated to this straight photography style.
Through the coming decades Adams attained a high level of notoriety and success, however beyond that, it was his technical ability that really set him apart. His love of theory and practical experience lead him to become consultants to major camera companies.There is much more to say on the life of Adams, but I feel that is his photographs that really do the talking, that show his skill and ability to, with clarity, convey the scenery around him. Ansel Adams lived until 1984, and left a huge legacy to the photographic world, I would say that he was a true master of his craft.
It has been recently thought that lost negatives are believed to those of Adams which were thought to be lost in a fire. Although the family have dismissed the photos (won't stand to make any money off them!) the negatives have been verified by experts. Read more here
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-10784539
Check out the Ansel Adams website here
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