Photography Artist - Ansel Adams

Ansel Easton Adams (February 20, 1902 – April 22, 1984) was an American photographer and environmentalist, best known for his black-and-white photographs of the American West, especially in Yosemite National Park. One of his most famous photographs was Moon and Half Dome, Yosemite National Park, California. With Fred Archer, Adams developed the Zone System as a way to determine proper exposure and adjust the contrast of the final print. The resulting clarity and depth characterized his photographs and the work of those he taught the system.  -wikipedia

I had not heard of the Zone System before. Then again, I've not done much with photography before so I'm not surprised. When my teacher talked about it in class I found it very simple, interesting, and useful. My drawing teachers are always talking about contrast, and this is an actual measurable way of creating contrast in an image. The stark contrast in his images creates a lot of drama, likely what made his photography famous. Looking through the Ansel Adams Gallery website I've found I like a few of his images: Clearing Storm, Sonoma County Hills, Moonrise from Glacier Point, and Golden Gate Headlands. I've never really looked at any of his work before, some is quite pretty, and all of it is dramatic. I really enjoy the high contrast of his images and it's something I'll try for in some of my own work if I have the opportunity.