Ansel Adams

Selden Poore

B1-Feldman

12/8/16

        There is great film photographers, and then there is Ansel Adams. His pictures seemed to have no flaws when it came to capturing some of the most difficult landscapes ranging from the Grand Tetons and Snake river, to the great heights shown by El Capitan of Yosemite. Coming out with the clearest pictures imaginable. Adams was able to combine contrast and texture perfectly when it came to photographing natural landscapes. Many photographers of that time didn’t have the persistence or talent to capture such influential pictures.

        Adams was born in February of 1902 in San Francisco, California. He was born a western boy and lived his life that way as well. Ansel was a very intelligent young man who studied at not only Harvard but continued his studies at Yale later on. Adams learned many lessons and morals from attending two very prestigious schools along the east coast. This caused Ansel to have a rather firm grasp on the understanding of United States as a whole at a fairly young age. It helped him to become a very well-rounded individual inside and out.

        Many people find special interests at a young age and they seem to stick with most people. This was definitely the case for Adams, being the well-rounded young man he was he taught himself piano at a young age and later took up photography. Little did he know how far a film camera could take you. His passion for photography began around 1916 after visiting Yosemite National Park. He began learning various darkroom techniques and reading every photography magazine he could get his hands on. As time passed he also started to attend camera club meetings and enjoyed visiting many exhibits.

        1928 rolled around and Ansel became married to Virginia Best, whose father owned a studio which was operated later on by Ansel until 1971. Ansel worked many years in the studio perfecting his craft and career, photography. Some of Adams earliest photography memories seem to be his trip to Yosemite. He thought why not go back and see how much he has improved as a photographer. The pictures of El Capitan and the Snake River, never ending meadows and snowcapped mountains. Showed people of the general public that these National Parks mean a great deal to our countries livelihood and really represent the diversity of this country so many of us are lucky to call home.