Ansel Adams

Ansel Adams was born on February 20, 1902, in San Francisco, and was raised in a house on the waterfront of the Golden Gate. His family was very conservative, the last vestiges of Victorian society, as well as financially unstable. Ansel was furthermore an only child and 'not like other kids' at school, so he found solace in being outside. He developed a fondness for nature, which gave him a joy that he could not find at school. As a twelve-year-old he also discovered his genius in music, and for twelve years immersed himself in the playing the piano. While he considered becoming a professional pianist, he could not tear himself away from long hikes and exploring outdoors, especially his beloved Yosemite and Sierra Nevada. It was in these adventures that he found confidence in himself, something he had never quite had before. While spending summers in Yosemite, Anself became involved with the leaders of the just-beginning conservation movement in America; he also met his wife Virgina there, whom he married in 1928.

All the while Ansel had begun taking photographs. He had a keen and sensitive eye, formed by his exposure to nature, naturally shy personality, and musical sensibility. The Sierra Club, who were the early leaders of the conservation movement, took month-long trips through the Sierra Nevada, which Ansel photographed. The Club also published some of his photography, and Ansel began to think that perhaps he could make his photography into a profession, instead of being a performance pianist. Soon he was introduced to art patrons and other photographers, who helped Ansel develop his signature style of 'straight photography' and contrast of tone. His work became well-known, filling galleries in one-man shows and making Ansel very busy, especially as he was still struggling to make ends meet. He reveled in his work, however, and was known for his frequent presence at parties. His insights into his craft also furnished him with a reputation as a consultant for camera companies, as well as a brilliant and influential writer on technique. Through all of it, the subject of his photography, the environment, remained his true passion, and his efforts at conserving Western America's wilderness and wildlife were tireless. A prolific writer and artist until his death, Ansel Adams was integral in establishing photography as an art form, and uniting that with awarenss about environmental concerns. He died on April 22, 1984, in Monterey, California.