Early Life
Ansel Adams was born on February 20th 1902, and before his death on April 22nd, 1984the photographer accomplished multiple deeds. Ansel Adams was born in San Francisco, as the only son to Charles Hitchcock Adams, and Olive Bay. Although born into a wealthy family the finical panic of 1907 left the family with little money. As a young child Ansel Adams spent a great deal of time alone. Along with being shy and tentative he had a misshapen nose (broken as a young child during an earthquake) that made fitting in difficult. Although music and playing he piano were his first love Ansel Adams grew accustom to being out in nature while a child. Often as a boy Ansel Adams could be found hiking in the dunes that surrounded his house, or walking around Lobos Creek and Baker Beach.
First Love
However it would be with his first visit to Yosemite in 1916 that would change the life of Ansel Adams. While at Yosemite for the first time Ansel Adams started to take photographs, using the Kodak No. 1 Box Brownie that his parents had given him. It could be said that Ansel Adams fell in love with Yosemite. In 1919 he joined the Sierra Club and became an active member within the group. Yosemite would also bring the other love into Ansel Adams love, his wife Virginia Best, who another member of the club, they were married in 1928.
Early Career
Yosemite Park and the Sierra Club became a pivotal launching point for Adams career. Ansel Adams first photographs to be published appeared in the club’s 1922 Bulletin. The club also gave him his first solo show which was held in the Sierra Club’s headquarters in San Francisco. In 1934 Ansel Adams was elected onto the board of members for the Sierra Club.
Ansel Adams soon came to realize that he could make enough money as a photographer to live off of. This became tremendously true in 127 when Ansel Adams first meet insurance magnate Albert M. Bender. Bender also happened to be a patron of the arts, and soon helped Ansel Adams with the publication of his first portfolio. Bender was able to help open doors and give encouragement to the young photographer.
Ansel Adams came to work with several other important artists of the time, and worked at other locations. His fame rose in the early 1930’s. in was during this time period that Ansel Adams made his first visit to New York City, where he wanted to might photographer Alfred Stieglitz, a personal hero of his. That relationship would play a vital role in Adam’s life and career. In 1933 the Delphic Gallery gave Ansel Adams his first New York show.
Conculsion
Ansel Adams life was filled with work and social events. He is well known for commonly working eighteen hours a day. He is also well known for his mastery over the medium of photography. Ansel Adams took great joy in the technical aspect of his work. However it is his relationship to Yosemite that is the most profound and intriguing part of his life. Several times during Ansel Adams life he would return to Yosemite. It could be said that Yosemite was where Ansel Adams was truly the happiest. It is this relationship that my research paper will focus on.
All the photographs shown in this blog were taken by Ansel Adams, and are of Yosemite Park.
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