Black and White

Ansel Adams

Ansel Adams is a famous photographer, originally from San Francisco, California. He was inherently shy and had trouble fitting in at school, causing him to be tutored by his father at home until he earned a "legitimizing diploma", the equivalent of completing eighth grade. The next step in his education was the pursuit of music. He was very passionate about it, initially intending it to be his profession. He also had an interest in nature. He enjoyed hiking and exploring different habitats. This would come into his photography, as the majority of his photography centered around nature. His first visualized photograph, monolith, the Face of Half Dome, was taken in 1927.  for much of his life he struggled financially, but he would eventually attain a high standing in the photography world, bringing himself financial stability and artistic recognition.

I chose this photo because of the feeling of awe it gives me. The contrast between the white of the snow on the mountain and the dark cloud above creates visual interest. The lighting and the clarity of the horizon give the whole photo a surreal and beautiful ambiance.