Ansel Adams Art and History
Ansel Adams art photography is among some of the most spectacular nature images ever captured by a camera. Born in San Francisco, California Adams found immense inspiration from the Yosemite National Park and the Sierra Nevada, located in his home state. When viewing Ansel Adams’ posters or prints, it is clear to see what distinguished his photography from the rest. He had a keen eye for capturing nature in its purest form and reality. The biography of Ansel Adams gives insight into what he truly cared about most. Ansel Adams is not only one of America’s and truly the world’s greatest photographers; he was also a huge proponent of nature conservation. Adams viewed his role as a nature photographer who sought to preserve nature not only through his still images for future generations to experience, but also through practical environmental preservation work through such organizations as the Sierra Club and other conservation efforts.
Ansel Adams was born on February 20, 1902 in San Francisco, California. He is one of the most successful American photographers and author of several photography related books, which include his three technical manuals, The Camera, The Negative, and The Print.
Ansel Adams’ mother and father, Charles and Olive, were finically successful and encouraged Ansel in his artistic endeavors. At the age of twelve, Adams’ father took him out of school to be taught by private tutors. In addition to private tutors and Greek language lessons, Ansel enjoyed piano lessons, which, at an early age, would inspire him to want to become a professional concert pianist. Ansel often alternated between his desire to be a concert pianist and a photographer.
Adams first visited Yosemite National Park at the age of fourteen and at the age of seventeen, he joined the Sierra Club. His encounters with Yosemite would not only influence his photography, but it was through his several trips that he would meet and, in 1928 eventually marry his wife, Virginia Best at the Best’s studio in the Yosemite Valley. It was from this studio that would later come what is now known as the Ansel Adams Gallery. Both Ansel and Virginia served as directors of the Sierra Club, which he was a member of throughout his life. Through the Sierra Club, Ansel sought to help preserve the natural world and was successful in bringing several environmental issues to the forefront of action. During the 1930’s Ansel was involved in the Sierra Club’s effort to secure two outlying parts of the Sierra Nevada as national parks. Ansel’s testimony before Congress helped this effort when in 1940 they were included in the national park system.
Some of Adams’ most famous photographs are his collection of images depicting the Japanese American internment camps during World War II. The photography of Ansel Adams at the Manzanar War Relocation Center in the Owens Valley, at the foot of Mount Williamson, are some his most poignant images. The finished collection resulted in an exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art and in 1944 was published as a photographic book, Born Free and Equal: The Story of loyal Japanese-Americans. These photographs, though different from many of his other compositions in that they include images of people, still focuses on portraying the expansive natural landscape.
Another one of Ansel Adams’ famous collections is his commissioned work from the University of California’s president, Clark Kerr. Kerr commissioned Adams to photograph the campus for its centennial celebration. He aptly named the collection Fiat Lux after the University’s motto. Ansel Adam’s Fiat Lux is now located at the Museum of Photography at the University of California’s, Riverside campus. Adams published the collection in 1967.
Although the above two collections are huge accomplishments for any photographer, one of Ansel Adam’s greatest historical success comes from a single photograph, The Tetons and the Snake River taken in 1942. What makes this image so interesting, besides the magnificence of the photography, imagery and scenery, is that it is one of the images included on the Voyager spacecraft, launched in 1977. The spacecraft includes a golden record that includes sounds and images of Earth as well as a message from then President, Jimmy Carter. The spacecraft and golden record are meant to provide any extraterrestrial life a small insight into humanity and plant Earth. However, there is much speculation as to the validity of this endeavor as the distance in time that the spacecraft requires to travel to the next neighboring star will take long over 40,000 years to reach. With this understanding, the intentions of the Voyager are seen not only as a communication tool with unknown life, but also serve as a kind of time capsule for any future humans who will discover it. The inclusion of Ansel Adams’ The Tetons and the Snake River is a strong testament to his characteristic work.
The artwork of Ansel Adams has had an enormous affect on not only nature photography in general, but in the importance of conservation. Adams died heart failure brought on by cancer on April 22, 1984 at the age of 82. Two notable natural landscapes were named after him posthumously; the Inyo National Forest was renamed the Ansel Adams Wilderness in 1984 and in 1985, an 11,760-foot peak in the Sierra Nevada. Naming peaks and wildernesses after him is appropriate. He spent much of his life photographing and educating the importance of such natural wonders. One of the most famous of his photographs is Ansel Adams’ El Capitan, a 3,000-foot vertical rock in Yosemite. The photograph is stunning image of a natural marvel. Ansel Adams art prints provide an amazing recreation of one of the greatest American Photographers. Ansel Adams black and white framed art prints are an amazing way to add elegance and splendor to all interior decorating ideas. His stunning artwork is sure to bring the magnificence of the outdoors and natural landscapes into any closed space.
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