Ansel Adams (1902-1984) was an American environmentalist and photographer known for his black-and-white images of the American West. He was born in San Francisco and grew up in California. Adams used his talent with photography to promote the protection of wilderness areas. Some of his most famous photographs include Moonrise, Hernandez, New Mexico and Clearing Winter Storm, Yosemite National Park. He developed the Zone System to help other photographers control exposure and tone. Adams worked to affect social change through his art and advocated for the establishment and preservation of national parks.

1. Jessica Martinez
Arts Appreciation
ARTS 1301-63002

2. • Born: February 20, 1902 in San
Francisco, California.
• Died: April 22, 1984 (82) in
Monterey, California.
• Environmental Activist
• Uses his gift/talent in photograph
to promote wilderness areas.
• 1929 and1942 he joined two other
photographers in their commitment
to affect social and political
change through their art.
• Photographed the lives of the
Japanese in camps during World
War II
• Moonrise, Hernandez, New Mexico
=Financial Stability

3. • Crooked Nose due to the after shock of an earthquake that
caused him to be thrown into a garden wall, broke his nose.
• Thrown out of schools
• Thought himself the piano
• His love for photography started after a trip to Yosemite National
Park (darkroom tech, read photography magazines, clubs)
• Married (Virginia Best) the daughter of the Best’s Studio owner. (he
sold his early photographs there)
• Inherited the shop after Virginias father passed, now remains as
the Ansel Adams Gallery.
“When words become unclear, I shall focus with
photographs. When images become
inadequate, I shall be content with silence”

4. • Date of Photograph
C. 1937 (Negative)
1976-77 (Print)
• Dimension of Photograph
15 5/8 x 19 3/16 inches
• Gelatin silver print
• Geographical Location
Yosemite National Park,
California, United States,
North and Central America

5. • Date of Photograph
April 1st , 2014
• Geographical Location
Oak Cliff, Dallas,Texas,
United States
• Jessica Yazell Martinez
• Born: October 28,1994
• Still Alive.
• Talent in Art
• I don’t have much to say
about myself.

6. Light:
Chiaroscuro: light dark effect by the light and
shadow. Created by light falling unevenly or
from a particular direction on something.
Color:
Value : Light to dark, helps to create the illusion
of space.
Space:
Isometric Perspective:
Parallel lines
No fixed point of view

7. Adam’s subject matter
• Produces images of original,
untouched nature,
• Imagines where one has never
been!!where one could imagine that
humans have never been
• Photographs raised public support
for national parks and for the
environmental movement in general
Media Technique
• The Zone System
“Zone System allows photographers to
consistently control the tonal range in
the negative”
“allows photographers the greatest
possible control over the characteristics
of black-and-white film.”

8. • Comparison
Black &White (characteristics)
Nature Portraits
Contrast
• Adams picture has more depth.
• Atmospheric Perspective:
shown as distant
neither extremely dark or light in value

9. • ”Intimate Nature: Ansel Adams and the Close View.” Center of
Creative Photography. May 04, 2014. Web
• “Philadelphia Museum of Art - Collections Object : Clearing
Winter Storm, Yosemite National Park” Philamuseum. May 04,
2014. Web.
• "Ansel Easton Adams." 2014. The Biography.com website. May
06 2014