ANSEL ADAMS PHOTOSHOOT
Photoshoot summary
I took inspiration from Ansel Adams, focusing on his approach to black and white photography, tonal range, and geometric composition. My aim was to photograph landscapes particularly beaches and St Helier in a way that stripped away colour and emphasised form, contrast, and essence.
I converted all images to black and white to push attention towards:
- Tone – capturing deep blacks, bright highlights, and a wide dynamic range in between.
- Texture – from the grain of the sand to the smooth surfaces of buildings.
- Symmetry – both natural (waves, shorelines) and architectural
- Geometry – repeating shapes, lines, and angles that create order and rhythm.
INSPO
I also considered how Adams used photography to “visualise” the final image even before shooting. I took this mindset into each composition , imagining how it would appear in monochrome and balancing the layout to include both ends of the tone spectrum.
POST
Using Lightroom
- Converted all images to Black and White.
- Deepened blacks and raised whites to heighten contrast.
- Used clarity and texture sliders to sharpen detail in key areas.
- Controlled highlights/shadows to preserve detail across the tonal spectrum ; echoing Adams’ Zone System.