Photogrpahy: Landscape Photographer Bio: Ansel Adams

Ansel Adams was born Feb. 20, 1902 and died April 22, 1984. He was born in San Francisco, California. He broke his nose when he was four because of the aftershock of the 1906 Earthquake. He was the grandson of a wealthy timber baron, but the family fortune collapsed in 1907. He was an only child. He had problems fitting in at school and was possibly diagnosed as hyperactive. He could have suffered from dyslexia too. His father and aunt ended up tutoring him. Because of the solidarity of his childhood Adams found joy in nature. He went hiking a lot to see different parts of nature. He taught himself how to play piano and read music when he was twelve. Piano was something that brought him substance, discipline, and structure to his life. He played piano for many years, but gave it up for photography. He loved shooting Yosemite National Park. He used the Kodak Brownies camera his parents had given him and went on hikes in Yosemite while taking pictures. In 1919, he joined the Sierra Club and spent the next four summers at Yosemite. He met his wife, Virginia Best, in Yosemite and they were married in 1928. The couple had two children. In 1922 Adam's published photographs and writings in the club's Bulletin. In 1928, he had his first one man exhibition in San Francisco. His first visualized photography was the Face of Half Dome. He met Albery M. Bender who helped set in motion the publication of Adams' first portfolio. Adams' friendship with Bender changed Adams' life. He had now had the confidence to pursue his dreams. His work was published with the help of Mary Austin in 1930. It was called Taos Pueblo. His first important one-man show was held in SF at the M. H. de Young Memorial Museu, in 1932. He opened the Ansel Adams Gallery for the Arts. During the 1930s, Adams started publications about methods of photography. Alfred Stieglitz gave Adams a one man show in his New York gallery in 1936. He was the second time Adams' work had been exhibited. In 1937 Adams met Paul Strand. Strand encouraged Adams do straight photography, which is clearer expression of subjects. He preferred small apertures and long exposures. Adams believed that the finished product must be thought up beforehand, and then be executed. He was the first photographer to take a portrait of a President. Although Adams loved to shot in black-and-white, color pictures of his do exist. Adams died on April 22, 1984.

Below is the photography White Branches, Mono Lake. Using black-and-white, Adams is able to show the value in the picture. The picture looks more dramatic with the variety of tones. Lines are shown in this picture because of the tree branch. The branches form lines that lead into the one branch, or the one branch becomes many branches and lines are formed coming away from the one branch. Adams uses the rule of thirds because the branch is not centered horizontally or vertically. There is unity and variety in the photograph too. There is unity among the dark rocks that are covered with shadows, but there is variety between the rocks and the tree branch. The light color of the branch against the dark value of the rocks helps to emphasis the branch.

http://www.anseladams.com/White_Branches_Mono_Lake_p/1701211102.htm