A homage to Ansel

“A photograph is made, not taken”.

The essential Adams message. It sums up how he viewed his craft. The pursuit of expressive excellence, the mastery of technique and process, and his persistent efforts to solidify photography as a legitimate fine art.

For me, Ansel Adams epitomizes how to approach photography, to capture the subject as the eye sees it. Through his images and his writings, he taught many how to see, to embrace the “statement of the lens”. His zone system changed the methods of B&W exposure and development, and it taught us to take pause and pre-visualize what we want the image to convey. Although a photographer of many subjects, he is celebrated for his images of the natural world. He is the definition of a nature photographer...a superb interpreter, a master of technique, and a passionate environmentalist.

While wandering through the White Sands Visitors Centre, I spied a fine looking book, Ansel Adams In The National Parks. The book is a collection of essays, articles and photographs, many of which have never been previously published. I knew right away the book would be making the journey home.

Reading through the book certainly re-affirmed my love of his work, his approach, and his passion for the outdoors. I became inspired to select a few images from our trip, and then sit down to see how they would look as black & whites.

The coolest thing about digital images is the flexibility one has with post production manipulation. This is especially true when working with RAW files, which captures exactly what the camera sensor has recorded. Use these files with good image software, and the creative possibilities are endless.

I tried to think like Ansel, to imagine what work he might do in the darkroom...a little dodging here, a little burning there. Was there a hidden gem waiting to be revealed in the shadows, or should it remain black. Did the whites show enough texture to evoke the sense of shape. I forced myself to slow down, to ponder what was before me, to think before acting. It was an interesting exercise that was certainly long overdue.

In the end, I’m pleased. It felt good to work on the images, to learn new skills, and most of all, to settle back and take the time to enjoy the craft.