“A great photograph is one that fully
expresses what one feels, in the deepest sense, about what is being
photographed” – Ansel Adams
Photography: the art or
practice of taking and processing photographs. Imagine being one of the best
photographers of your time. Not only would you be famous for your pictures, you’re
famous for doing something you love and do every day. Ansel Adams is one of
many to be inspired by what he does best. Ansels photos are inspiring by the
creativity, simplicity, and the feeling of the photo itself.
Ansel Easton Adams was born
on February.20, 1902. He was an American photographer and environmentalist (conservationist).
Ansel was best known for his black and white photography of the American west.
When Ansel was little he taught himself how to play the piano, playing music
was what he wanted to do as his profession. As the time went on, Ansels family
took him to a park called Yosemite National Park (1916). When they visited
Ansel always wrote about his view of the valley. “The splendor of the Yosemite burst upon us and it was glorious… One
wonder after another descended upon us… There was light everywhere… A new era
began for me”. After his first visit at the park his father gave him his first camera, a Kodak Brownie box
camera. Through the years Ansel went back to Yosemite. He came with tripods and
new and better cameras each time. In 1928, Ansel married Virginia Best.
Virginia inherited her father’s studio, Best Studios. Ansel published his first
photo in 1921 with Best Studios. His early photos showed composition and tonal
balance. In 1926, Ansel experimented with soft-focus, etching, Bromeil Process
and many more. Ansel became very popular with these photos later. He decided to
buy different types of lenses to get different effects. In 1971, they changed
the studios name to Ansel Adams Gallery. Ansel still continued to play the
piano and decided to teach little kids how to play as a side job.
Ansel Adams was
known as the photographer who took "pure" photographs. Ansels
pictures are crisp, rich, and stunning pictures that are still being seen and
bought today. Ansel mostly takes landscapes that are original and brilliant.
Part of the reason why Ansel is so famous is because he created the Zone
System. The Zone System is a method for exposing and developing black and white
negatives to insure total tone detail from lightest to darkest shadows. Ansel
also inspires others because of his three famous books he wrote. The Camera,
The negative and The Print. Ansel was also one of the founding members of the
f/64 club. The group had contemporary photographers who shared similar goals
and the same interests. Many of the photographs taken by this group are now in
the Museum of Modern Arts department of Photography. http://www.moma.org/ Many people who valued
Ansel as their idol or role model, try to make groups and create photos just
like his.
Some of Ansels greatest photos are characterized by this kind of
"near-to-far wire sharpness. Ansel is my mentor because his photos are
complex but makes his pictures so beautiful and breathless. When he takes his
photos he makes it look like its easy as pie and any one could take them. I
think the black and white gives the pictures emphasis and contrast. I also like
his photos because to me the outdoors, and landscapes are peaceful and it feels
like home looking at such beautiful things. I think trees and mountains are
beautiful and many of Ansels photos are like this. The first photo below is
called Mount Williamson- Clearing Storm (1944). I like this picture because the
center rock would be the main focus, but he focused the entire picture which is
very challenging. I also like this picture because it is crisp, clean and
simple. The second picture is called Oak Tree, Sunrise. I like this picture
because of the shadows on the ground and I LOVE how you can see the sun shining
through the branches. I also like how you can see every outline of every single
tree branch and almost every leaf. This is my favorite picture by Ansel
Adams. Some of the other pictures below are also amazing.
“Simply
look with perceptive eyes at the world about you, and trust to your own
reactions and convictions. Ask yourself: "Does this subject move me to
feel, think and dream? Can I visualize a print - my own personal statement of what
I feel and want to convey - from the subject before me? –Ansel Adams
In conclusion, Ansel Adams is an amazing
photographer. His pictures are crisp, clean simple, and inspiring. He takes his
photos in a way that once you look at them you will instantly fall in
love with them. He makes his pictures with feeling, contrast and emphasis
which is why he is famous. He is my
mentor. MY PICTURE IS AT THE BOTTOM!
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| Mine Before |
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| Ansel Adams Leaves in Glacier National Park |
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| Black and White version http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ansel_Adams http://www.anseladams.com/ansel-adams-information/ansel-adams-biography/ http://www.anseladams.com/ http://www.moma.org/ |
