Ansel Adams

Who Was Ansel Adams?

Ansel Adams gained renown as a prominent photographer of the American West, particularly celebrated for his evocative images of Yosemite National Park. Through his stunning black-and-white photographs, he played a pivotal role in advocating for the conservation of wilderness areas and significantly contributed to establishing photography as a respected fine art.

Early Life

Ansel Easton Adams was born on February 20, 1902, in San Francisco, California. His family, of New England origin, migrated to California after settling in the United States from Ireland in the early 1700s. Adams’ grandfather founded a successful lumber business, which was eventually inherited by his father. Later in his life, Adams became a vocal critic of this industry, condemning its role in depleting the redwood forests.

As a child, Adams experienced a traumatic injury during the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, when an aftershock propelled him into a garden wall. This incident resulted in a broken nose that was never properly set, leaving him with a lifelong crooked appearance.

Adams exhibited hyperactivity and chronic health issues, which made it difficult for him to form friendships. His disruptive behavior led to his dismissal from several schools; consequently, he was educated at home by private tutors and family members beginning at the age of 12.

Music was another early passion for Adams; he taught himself to play the piano. However, it was not until a trip to Yosemite National Park in 1916 that he began to explore photography. He became proficient in darkroom techniques, avidly read photography magazines, attended camera club meetings, and visited various photography and art exhibits. He also developed and sold his early photographs at Best’s Studio in Yosemite Valley.

In 1928, Adams married Virginia Best, the daughter of the proprietor of Best’s Studio. After her father’s death in 1935, Virginia inherited the studio, and the couple continued to operate it until 1971. Today, the business, now known as the Ansel Adams Gallery, remains a family-run enterprise, preserving Adams’ legacy and contributions to photography and conservation.

Career

Ansel Adams’ professional breakthrough came with the publication of his inaugural portfolio, Parmelian Prints of the High Sierras, which featured his renowned image “Monolith, the Face of Half Dome.” The portfolio garnered significant acclaim, resulting in numerous commercial assignments.

From 1929 to 1942, Adams continued to refine his craft and solidify his reputation. He expanded his artistic range by exploring detailed close-ups as well as grand landscapes, encompassing subjects from majestic mountains to industrial factories. During this period, he spent time in New Mexico, collaborating with prominent artists such as Alfred Stieglitz, Georgia O’Keeffe, and Paul Strand. Adams also began to publish a series of essays and instructional books on photography.

This era marked Adams’ active engagement in social and political advocacy through his art. He joined fellow photographers Dorothea Lange and Walker Evans in their commitment to effecting change. His initial cause was the conservation of wilderness areas, particularly Yosemite National Park. Following the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II, Adams documented life in the camps, producing a poignant photo essay that highlighted wartime injustices.

Just weeks before the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, Adams captured a striking image of the moon rising over a village. This photograph, titled “Moonrise, Hernandez, New Mexico,” became a pivotal work for Adams, as he reinterpreted it over nearly four decades, ultimately producing over a thousand unique prints that contributed significantly to his financial stability.

Later Life and Death

By the 1960s, the recognition of photography as a legitimate art form had grown substantially, leading to the display of Adams’ work in major galleries and museums. In 1974, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York held a retrospective exhibition of his work. Throughout the 1970s, Adams dedicated much of his time to printing negatives to meet the increasing demand for his iconic images.

Ansel Adams passed away on April 22, 1984, at the Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula in Monterey, California, following a heart attack. He was 82 years old.