Who is he?
Ansel Easton Adams was an American landscape photographer and environmentalist known for his black-and-white images of the American West. He helped found Group f/64, an association of photographers advocating “pure” photography which favoured sharp focus and the use of the full tonal range of a photograph.
His childhood
Ansel Adams was born on February 20, 1902, in San Francisco, California. As an only child, he was a shy and curious kid who didn’t quite fit into traditional schooling, so his father decided to home-school him. His love for nature started early, especially after experiencing the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, which forced his family to move. At first, he was passionate about playing the piano and even considered a career in music. But in 1916, everything changed when he took a family trip to Yosemite and got his first camera—a Kodak Brownie. From that moment on, he was hooked on photography, and his fascination with the outdoors and capturing its beauty set him on the path to becoming one of the most famous landscape photographers of all time.
What inspired him
Influenced by New York photographer Alfred Steig
litz, whom Adams called “the greatest photographic leader in the world,” photographers created meticulously hand-crafted prints on soft-focus, textured papers.
Ansel Adams had a long and deep relationship with the Sierra Club, an environmental organization dedicated to the preservation of nature. His involvement began in 1927, when he first published his photographs of Yosemite in the club’s bulletin. His striking images of the American wilderness, especially Yosemite National Park, helped raise awareness about conservation.
Sierra Club
The Sierra Club, one of the most influential environmental organizations in the United States, played a pivotal role in advocating for the protection of natural landscapes. A key figure in its history was Ansel Adams, the legendary photographer whose breathtaking black-and-white images of the American wilderness brought national attention to the importance of conservation.
Adams joined the Sierra Club in 1919 at the age of 17, working as a caretaker of the LeConte Memorial Lodge in Yosemite National Park. His love for the natural world was evident, and through his photography, he began to merge art with activism. His images of the Sierra Nevada, especially Yosemite, not only captured the beauty of these landscapes but also served as powerful tools for environmental advocacy.
What else did he do
Ansel Adams wasn’t just a famous photographer — he was also an activist and teacher. He co-founded Group f/64 to push for clear, realistic photography, used his art to support national parks, and documented Japanese American internment at Manzanar during World War II in Born Free and Equal. He also helped set up photography programs and created the Zone System to better control light and contrast in photos. His work blended art, nature, and social justice in a powerful way.
Image Analysis
