Tracing the Footsteps of Ansel Adams

by Ben Prepelka

Title

Tracing the Footsteps of Ansel Adams

Artist

Ben Prepelka

Medium

Photograph

Description

Ansel Adams, born a gifted child in 1902, went on to excel in just about all of his life's endeavors. With a passion for music, Adams became a renowned pianist, as well as a dedicated husband and father, writer and humanitarian. To most Americans who recognize the Ansel Adams name, he was a legendary photographer. Toting sixty pounds of photography equipment, including a 30 pound large format camera, Adams photographed Glacier National Park and Sequoia National Monument, but he will be forever linked with Yosemite National Park. Producing images for over a half century, the Adams signature photographs include intimate details, and some of the best examples of composition and contrast. Whether it was a close up of nature or a dramatic mountain scene, Adams set the standards in black and white photography.
Beginning at 8000 feet elevation in California's Clark Range, the Merced River heads in a westerly direction over two distinct branches. From Merced Lake, the northern river continues through Little Yosemite Valley and begins to drop at what is often called the Giant Staircase. The river cuts through granite on its way to a 595 foot high Nevada Fall. The next plunge is the beautiful 317 foot Vernal Fall, just before the Merced River approaches Yosemite Valley. The more famous north fork then flows through Yosemite Valley at a much slower pace. In this Yosemite scene, where the Wild and Scenic Merced River plunges toward the plains, one may ponder the herculean efforts of yesteryear's photographers and how hard it was to work their craft. Seemingly quite easy today, one may effortlessly retrace the footsteps of Ansel Adams. This scene of a raging Lower Merced, with its killer Class IV and V rapids, creates an Adams style study in contrasts.

Uploaded

June 7th, 2022

Colors

Embed

Share

Tags