Ansel Adams Moonrise - Review

Ansel Adams Moonrise, Hernadez, New Mexico

Picture the scene: it’s autumn 1941 and you and your assistants are approaching the end of a fruitless day’s work trying to capture the beauty of the US landscape for the Department of the Interior. After hours of failed exposures and missed opportunities you spot, just off Route 84 in New Mexico, a beautiful scene. The white clouds and snowcapped mountains on the far horizon reflect the setting sun; in the foreground an assortment of gravestones also throw off the sinking rays; and, in the sky above, a gibbous moon is on the rise. With the right film, set at the correct exposure, you think it could make for a truly great landscape photograph. Only, where have you put that light meter?

Ansel Adams is one of the most beloved and well known landscape photographers of the United States; his popularity has only increased since his death. By the time he wrote his first guide book Making a Photograph, he had already established the subject matter - the natural environment of United States. Adams is well known for his nicely composed landscapes which include an amazing tonal range. He loved to play piano and we can see that vibe flowing in his pictures. The way he composes the pictures is similar to the music that is produced by the keys of piano, smooth yet sharp at the same time. His work is not similar to any Street life photographer because most of his picture are pre planner unlike other Street life photographers. 

Moon rise, Hernandez, New Mexico is one of his most famous photographs. Moonrise was made on a typical Ansel trip to the Southwest in the fall of 1941 combining two commercial assignments: one for the U.S Department of the Interior at Carlsbad Caverns and the other for the U.S. Potash Company. Ansel used to make his own chemicals to print the pictures and that is something he was perfect at. We can't call anyone perfect but Ansel was probably the Picasso of printing images. Most like all of his pictures, Moonrise is also pre planned picture as its a landscape, but it has that element of realism in it. It lacks the humanity aspect but the picture is incredibly realistic. Looking at the beautiful moon, sun almost below the horizon, filling the sky with its smooth light but not fading moon's beauty, these are the things can drive you crazy and are enough to blow off your mind and fill it with freshness and happiness. The graves and the houses in the picture with perfectly composed tones give the picture more realistic touch.

Ansel Adam's Moonrise is a perfect example of well composed photograph and the reason we are calling this a photograph is the realism of the picture. According to Ansel's own words, "Not everybody trusts paintings but people believe photographs." This picture doesn't look like a painting because of its sharp focus. No one can call this picture a painting. Talking about Ansel's hardwork, what Adam has achieved in his life is just unachievable. No one can even come closer to Adam's art and what he has done for the sake of Landscape Photography is truly remarkable. He gave landscape photography a new life and it won't be unfair to call him the Best landscape Photographer of the century.

- Kamran Yousaf                  

Ansel Adams Snake river Review

Ansel Adams The Testons and the Snake River

Ansel Adams is quoted as saying, "You don't take a photograph, you make it." Adams is well known Photographer because of his impressive black and white landscapes which fill your eyes with immense pleasure and freshness. These photographs earned him the admiration of Photographers past and present. Adams had the ability to work exceptionally on higher ISO. His photographs were mostly pre planner but all of them had a message in them and he was really consistent with that. Adams spent his whole life conveying message of Beauty of nature and he did his job remarkably. He was like many artists, brain nervous child but full of energy and he had been doing photography since his childhood that is what made his work exceptional and mature. His work was about America, his thoughts were about America. He showed the beauty of America in his pictures. 

The Tetons and the Snake River is one his most famous pictures. This photograph of the Tetons and the Snake is really different than other common landscape pictures, as it is composed black and white, the photo makes the viewer focus on what the picture focal point actually is and not just the colours of the photo. Adams wants to show us how much meaning nature can truly have in our lives. Adams often went on walk in the wilderness and admired his environment and surroundings. I think that's what his pictures are about, placing us in the places he's been. His pictures give viewer the feeling as they are really present at that place and can feel what Adam felt while taking a shot. The connection between river and the mountains create tension in the picture. The flow of river has worked as a guiding lines in the picture that leads the viewer to the main subject and that is the most perfect example of well composed picture. Adam's photographs have everything to change the perspective of the viewer. It can actually change the way of viewer's thinking. Adams' photographs are very perceptual and tremendous art form. Adams actually succeeded to transform fragrances into pictures.

We won't be doing justice to current Photographers by saying that we can't reproduce his pictures. The main point is, what Adams has done in his time no one can ever compete that. He has done it before any one even think of it and that's what makes Adams one of the most successful Photographers of the century. 

- Kamran Yousaf