Born in 1902 in California, Ansel Adams had a troubled youth but found solace in nature and music. He became a renowned photographer known for his stunning black and white landscapes capturing America's national parks. Throughout his career from the 1920s to 1980s, Adams pioneered photographic techniques like the Zone System and worked to preserve the natural beauty he photographed. He died in 1984 at age 82, but his photographs continue to inspire new generations of artists.