Ansel Adams; Changing Photography Forever

Ansel Adams, most widely known in the photographyphotographed and the audiences he required. People
world for his immaculate and accurate view of nature,began to connect Ansel Adams' work with any topic
changed the way people looked at photography.of nature or the environment itself.
Adams described himself in three ways: aWhile Ansel Adams is most known for his breathtaking
photographer, lecturer, and writer. But in actuality, younature photography, he also produced spectacular
can combine these three facets and call him ablack and white photography. Adams made black and
communicator.white photography what it is today through several
Born in 1902, Adams photographic vision was bornpieces of work he created. His black and white
immediately as he spent his childhood growing up in theimages helped induce an emotion of timeliness and
natural beauty of San Francisco, California. As a shyfreeze a particular moment. While many believe color
and lonesome boy, Adams typically took long walks inadds to a picture, Adams showed that a black and
the still-wild reaches of the Golden Gate observing andwhite image can say just as much, if not more, than
enjoying the nature.that of a colored image.
Ansel Adams' true passion for nature photographyOne image that stands out that he created in 1938
came from the Yosemite Sierra, where he spentwas "Half Dome, Merced River, Winter", one of
substantial time at from 1916 until his death in 1984.Adams' most beloved photographs of Yosemite
Starting with the Kodak No. 1 Box Brownie that hisValley. He took the photograph with an 8"x10" view
parents gave him, Adams hiked, climbed, and exploredcamera from the Old Sentinel Bridge near the
the beauty of nature.Yosemite Chapel. This picture sums up his style
In 1930 Adams met photographer Paul Strand, whoseperfectly with the gorgeous mountains covered in
images had a huge impact on Adams. It was hissnow, trees all in front of the mountains also covered
images that helped move Adams from a pictorial stylein snow, and a river flowing in the middle of the picture.
in the 1920's to straight photography. Adams eventuallyThere are few photographers that have been able to
would become straight photography's most articulateleave a lasting image on people like Ansel Adams. His
and masterful photographer.love and desire for nature enable him to take
What characterizes Adams' nature photography morebreathtaking nature photographs. And his black and
than anything was his will to travel all around thewhite photography has made it what it is today.
country in pursuit of both the natural beauty he