Task 4 Darkroom Second Artist Ansel Adams

Task 4

Ansel Adams

Adams is seen as a visionary figure in nature photography and wilderness preservation. He is seen as an environmental hero who has dedicated his practice to wilderness preservation. His images inspire an appreciation for natural beauty and his eye for capturing beautiful landscapes has helped to forever preserve the land on the film and earth for future generations to come.  He was born in 1902 in the city of San Francisco, four years before the great earthquake of 1906. The after-shock of that earthquake caused him to breaking his nose marking him to the rest of his life. As a child he found joy in at the golden gate park where he gained an appreciation for nature, which in later life will  became his primary source of photographic inspiration. At the age of 17 was his contact with the Sierra club when he took a job on there. His interest in photography grew often going on climes up the mountains accompanied by mule laden, with photographic gear and supplies. Adam's role in the Sierra club grew rapidly and the club became vital to his early success as a photographer. He also got involved in politics suggesting proposals to improve parks and wilderness. He soon became known as both artists and defenders of the Yosemite. Through this the club involved into a powerful national organisation that lobbied to create national parks and protect the environment from destructive development projects. He learned darkroom techniques himself and read photographic magazines to gain any information he could about the photography world.  He was a dedicated artist who played a role in the growth of an environmental consciousness in the US and the development of environmental movements. He was often criticised for not including humans in his work as it represented an idealised wilderness that no longer exists. However I believe is thanks to this lack of human president that gives the image it's beautiful and undisturbed quality that almost creates a magical feeling to the environment. Adams believed in both the possibility and the probability of humans living in harmony and balance with the environment around us. His professional breakthrough was the publication of his first portfolio, which included his famous image “Monolith, the Face of half Dome”.