Famous+Photographer

=Ansel Adams ( Feb. 20th, 1902 - April 22nd, 1984)=

History:
Ansel Adams was born in San Francisco, California. When he was four he broke his nose due to the aftershock of an earthquake in 1906. He grew up in a very Victorian, Conservative home. He wasn't good in school, and finished school with a diploma from Mrs. Kate M. Wilkins Private school. Which is the equivalent of completing the eighth grade. Being a very independent child, he loved to be outdoors; in the forest, on the beach, just about anywhere. When he reached twelve years old he taught himself to play piano, and read music, his piano lessons soon became his form of schooling. He played piano for a dozen more years before he picked up photography. He started out on the Nikon 1 Box Brownie, his parents gave him. He took most of his pictures in the Yosemite Sierra Region, spending most of his time there every year from 1916 to his death. In 1919 he joined the Sierra club. He met his wife through the club; although it was in Yosemite where they actually met. They got married in 1928, and had two children. In 1934 he was elected to the club's board of directors, and was well established as the artist of the Sierra Nevada and the defender of Yosemite. His influence came from Albert M. Bender, a San Francisco insurance magnate and patron of arts and artists. He was highly influenced by

Lower Yosemite Fall: Design elements used in this photo are direction, and balance. In this photo light is used to make the rocky ledge in the foreground lighter than in the background; where the water fall is.

Tetons and Snake River:

The "S" Curve is used in this photo, and with that comes the sense of direction. The lighting comes from the sun behind the clouds. I think it shows the shadowed parts and the lighter parts well.

Cathedral Peak and Lake:  

This photo uses the rule of thirds, the mountain is in the top right corner of the photo. There is little contrast in this photo when it comes to lighting. But the it is still a beautiful photo.

Jeffrey Pine:

There is a huge sense of direction in this photo, because of the way the tree is bending in the wind. The light seems to be coming from the left side of the photo. The shadows are all mostly on the right side, it makes an awesome picture.

Golden Gate before the Bridge:

This photo has a very deep depth of field. But it is also balanced in the way that the land is on either side of the photo. The light looks like it's coming from behind the photographer. It looks extremely cool because the water is shiny but grey at the same time. And the land is really dark. Then the clouds are white and fluffy too.