Artist Research: Ansel Adams

        Ansel Easton Adams was born on February 20, 1902 in San Francisco, California, which later sparked his interest in what are now his famous photographs of the Yosemite Valley.  He began to learn about photography after his Aunt Mary gave him a copy of “In the Heart of the Sierras” which portrayed photographs by George Fiske that sparked his interest to visit the Yosemite National Park, where he received his first camera as a gift. His disapproval of the uniformity of the education system led to him leaving school in 1915 to educate himself. Originally trained as a pianist, he continually alternated from his career as a concert pianist to his one as a photographer. When he joined the Sierra Club, dedicated to preserving that wonder and resources of the natural world, at age seventeen, he became interested in photographing nature in all is simplicity and perfection. He used his photography to not only promote the objectives of the club but also to bring environmental issues to light in a new and inspiring way. Adams later invented the zone system as a technique to allowed for translation of light into specific densities on negatives and photo paper, which gave photographers much more control over finished photos. His photos are known for their demonstration of depth of field, specifically in nature.