Ansel Adams- a photographer as well as an

environmentalist was from San Francisco, California. Born

to businessman, Charles Hitchcock and Olive Bray on
February 20, 1902. Adams grew up in a house among the
sand dunes of the Golden Gate. It was at age four when
both an earthquake and fire threw him on the ground and
badly broke his nose in 1906, a distinct mark that would
last his whole life. During the financial panic of 1907,
Adamss family wasnt safe as the family fortune collapsed
and found no way to recoup. An only child, Adams was
born when both of his parents were nearly forty, he was
surrounded by people who were relatively elderly
therefore set an environment that was Victorian and both
socially and emotionally conservative. Adamss mother
spent so much of her time worrying about her husbands
inability to restore the family fortune while his father encouraged, supported, and deeply
influenced his son. Adams had trouble fitting in at school with his shyness, genius mind, and
crooked nose. He was no successful in various schools, this might have been due to his hyper
activeness and undiagnosed dyslexia. With tutoring from his father and aunt, Adams was able
to earn a legitimizing diploma from the Mrs. Kate M. Wilkins Private School- the equivalent to
have completing the eighth grade. The solitary the Adams experienced allowed his to find joy in
nature, nearly every day he could be found hiking and exploring the wild reaches of the Golden
Gate. At age twelve he taught himself to play piano and read music, the pursuit of music
became the substitute for formal schooling and his primary occupation for the next twenty
years. He ultimately gave it up for photography but the careful training and craft required from
a musician helped his visual artistry. When his parents gave him the Kodak No 1. Box Brownie,
Adams love of nature could be captured as he explored the Golden Gate. With this new found
self-confidence, he joined the Sierra Club in 1919 and became a keeper in the Yosemite
Valley. Yosemite became a big part of his life as he grew connection was the founders of
Americas nascent conservative movement, and even met his wife in Yosemite and they later
had two children. The Sierra Club was vital to his success as a photographer as it was the place
where his first published photographs and writings appeared in 1922. It was in 1928 where he
held his first one-man exhibition at the clubs San Francisco headquarters. Adam began to
realize he was able to earn more as a photographer than as a concert pianist. By 1934, Adam
was elected to the clubs board of directors and was a well-established artist of the Sierra
Nevada. 1927 was an important year for Adam as he made his first fully visualized photograph,
Monolith, the Face of Half Dome. He also became influenced by Albert M. Bender, a patron of
arts and artists, as Bender set in motion the publication of Adams first portfolio, Parmelian
Prints of the High Sierras. His passion for photography deepened as Bender came into his life.
Adamss limited edition book, Taos Pueblo, was published in 1930. That year, he met Paul
Strand who helped move away from pictorial style and instead pursue straight photography, in
which the clarity of the lends is emphasized. In 1932, Adams his first one-man museum show.
Adamss popularity increased in the early 1930s due to his ability and his energy and activity.
He continued to meet various photographers who influenced his deeply, travel around to
showcase his art, and showcased his art at prominent placed as at an American Place. Though
he held lots of recognition, it didnt help alleviate his financial issues therefore he was forced to
begin using his gift for commercial work instead of fulfilling his artistic vision. Although his
commercial work was just as good as his artistic vision, his financial issues remain a prominent
source of stress until later in his life. Ansel Adams never gave himself a break when it came to
his work, it was only after an intense period of work that he would get the flu and spend
some time in bed. He was not solely a photographer, Adams was an activist for the
environment and wilderness that had ignited his passion for photography and life in general.
Ansel Adams was a great man who was driven by passion and truly put his soul into his work.

This photograph by Ansel Adams is simply

memorizing due to the shapes and the use of balancing elements. The angle from which its
taken creates a sneak peek to the background which gives it more depth. The architecture is
already so unique to his typical nature photographs; it provides an almost refreshing type of
feeling.

This beautiful photograph shows so much

detail in every square inch, you can see the texture in both the table and the rose. The close up
on the rose makes it stand out from the wood background. I really enjoyed it because my
favorite photographs are the ones that show enormous amount of detail, it is the detail that
really makes the audience interested in the work.

Ansel Adams was a perfect

example of using the 10 rules of photography in your work to make it so powerful. Using the
rule of lines created such depth in the photo that it almost become three dimensional. Adams
love of nature was useful due to the fact that he is able to find the beautiful spots of nature,
take a photograph, and share it with an audience to teach them how to appreciate the beauty
of the environment.