Ansel Adams

Ansel Adams is an incredible man that was passionate about nature, the natural beauty of things and lover of the imperfections and beauty of the everyday mundane. Born in 1902 in San Fransisco to older parents that had fortune then lost, he grew up considered somewhat "odd" to his classmates.  At the age of 4 his nose got broken in an aftershock, permanently  changing his face. As he did not do well in school, he graduated with a legitimizing diploma, which could be considered the same as completing the eighth grade. When he was 12 he was taught to play piano and read music, which inspired his goal of becoming a famous concert pianist. He excelled at piano and that took the place of much of his schooling, and was his main occupation until 1920. he was influenced by the beauty of the Golden Gate,  and even more so of Yosemite Sierras, in Nevada. Starting in 1916, at the age of about 14, he became transfixed on the natural beauty that surrounded him. He spent large amount of time there throughout his life and in 1927, published his first, and arguably most famous portfolio Parmelian Prints of the High Sierras which includes Monolith, the Face of the Half Dome. In the 1930's Ansel changed his photos to become a sharper straight image, that looked to have not been tampered with. He is credited with the creation of "dodging" and "burning" as well as the Zone system, the early form of photo editing in a dark room, causing parts of photos to be over or less exposed. Ansel Adams is quoted saying "dodging and burning are steps to take care of mistakes God made in the establishing tonal relationships." In 1935 to 1938 Ansel ran into financial troubles and started doing more commercial work, including food companies, portraits and magazines alike. Being a very influential person, he was an avid activist for protections of private natural lands, most notably the park close to his heart and his beginnings, Yosemite National Park. His critics often said that his images were too idealistic, with no humanity or evidence of humans in them at all, it was these images that were a large reason that we have protected lands and parks to this day. In fact, some would argue that Ansel Adams was the last and defining figure in the romantic 19th century of landscape photographs and paintings. In his old age (1977), his first images were still loved and imitated by aspiring photographers, and his editing skills were adopted by many leading photographers of the age, and still used today. He finished writing his autobiography the same year her died, and one year later on April 22 1985, a mountain on the boundary of Yosimite park was named Mt. Ansel Adams, poetic justice as he helped protect the mountains, they will forever hold his memory.

“No man has the right to dictate what other men should perceive, create or produce, but all should be encouraged to reveal themselves, their perceptions and emotions, and to build confidence in the creative spirit.” – Ansel Adams - See more at: http://www.johnpaulcaponigro.com/blog/11531/22-quotes-by-photographer-ansel-adams/#sthash.99PIm5zz.dpuf

“No man has the right to dictate what other men should perceive, create or produce, but all should be encouraged to reveal themselves, their perceptions and emotions, and to build confidence in the creative spirit.” – Ansel Adams - See more at: http://www.johnpaulcaponigro.com/blog/11531/22-quotes-by-photographer-ansel-adams/#sthash.99PIm5zz.dpuf

“No man has the right to dictate what other men should perceive, create or produce, but all should be encouraged to reveal themselves, their perceptions and emotions, and to build confidence in the creative spirit.” – Ansel Adams - See more at: http://www.johnpaulcaponigro.com/blog/11531/22-quotes-by-photographer-ansel-adams/#sthash.99PIm5zz.dpuf

Sundown, the Pacific: My favorite photo by Ansel Adams

“No man has the right to dictate what other men should perceive, create or produce, but all should be encouraged to reveal themselves, their perceptions and emotions, and to build confidence in the creative spirit.” – Ansel Adams - See more at: http://www.johnpaulcaponigro.com/blog/11531/22-quotes-by-photographer-ansel-adams/#sthash.99PIm5zz.dpuf

Sources:
http://www.anseladams.com

“No man has the right to dictate what other men should perceive, create or produce, but all should be encouraged to reveal themselves, their perceptions and emotions, and to build confidence in the creative spirit.” – Ansel Adams - See more at: http://www.johnpaulcaponigro.com/blog/11531/22-quotes-by-photographer-ansel-adams/#sthash.99PIm5zz.dpuf

“No man has the right to dictate what other men should perceive, create or produce, but all should be encouraged to reveal themselves, their perceptions and emotions, and to build confidence in the creative spirit.” – Ansel Adams - See more at: http://www.johnpaulcaponigro.com/blog/11531/22-quotes-by-photographer-ansel-adams/#sthash.99PIm5zz.dpuf

http://www.anseladams.com/roy-firestone-interviews-ansel-adams/
http://www.anseladams.com/bbc-masters-ansel-adams-part-1
http://www.anseladams.com/bbc-masters-ansel-adams-part-2/
http://www.nps.gov/yose/learn/historyculture/images/adams.army-web.jpg
http://shop.anseladams.com/v/vspfiles/photos/15441027-U-2T.jpg
http://shop.anseladams.com/v/vspfiles/photos/15440121-U-2.jpg
http://www.anseladams.com/ansel-adams-information/
http://www.johnpaulcaponigro.com/blog/11531/22-quotes-by-photographer-ansel-adams/