Topic > How Do I Understand Ansel Adams' Photographs

Images of trees in a snow-covered forest may be foreign to people who have never ventured into the rural wilderness. However, Ansel Adam, a photographer of the early 1900s, loved capturing images outdoors, as landscapes were his favorite. Trees and Snow painted in 1933 at the beginning of Adam's career. Capturing these panoramic images became Ansel Adam's life's work, so that he could share the charm of the outdoors with other people. The Trees and Snow photograph depicts a dense snow-covered forest, demonstrates absolute clarity and depth, and portrays the infinite beauty of the Yosemite Valley forest. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Taking a quick look at the artwork, you first notice the dense forest of trees that seems to stretch for miles. Despite the large quantity, the trees are quite bare, showing no leaves or flowers which represent a time of year during the autumn or winter months. The trees stretch towards the sky, but they don't have much girth so they are still young. The other half of the photograph's title, "Snow", is the other predominant feature. The abundance of pure white snow, just scattered among the tree branches, offers the viewer a majestic look at the beginning of a new day in the western United States. Taking a deeper look at the elements, you will notice the clarity and strong details in this photograph. “Adams began to pursue “straight photography,” in which the clarity of the lens was emphasized” (Turnage 2016). This use of detail creates a realistic image that makes you feel like you're actually there. “Direct or “pure” photography is creating an image that objectively portrays the reality of the world; without manipulating the photograph after it has been produced” (Straight Photography 2017). Adam was the best at creating photos that bridged the gap between people and nature. He rarely edited his photos to look as natural as possible. Despite the lack of color, the bright shades of black and white mix to form the bright grayish background. The early morning light filters through the forest creating, once again, a tranquil environment that draws the viewer in, making them long for a journey to places unknown. Ansel Adams' goal in life was to educate the general population about conservation. Through his photos, he created a large following of people who not only had an interest in beautiful photos, but a passion for the great outdoors. Another notable photograph by Ansel is Half Dome, Merced River, Winter (1938). This is also a black and white image of the iconic Half Dome landmark which has become so popular that people strive to reach its top every day. Similar to Trees and Snow, this photo shows the natural beauty of the Park and no editing or editing is necessary. “For Adams, the environmental issues of particular importance were Yosemite National Park, the national park system, and, above all, wilderness conservation” (Turnage 2016). Through the use of his camera and his quality communication skills, Adams testified before the United States Congress to plead the case for keeping national parks protected from urbanization. Ansel and his photos showed the US government and citizens that there is no need to change this already perfect place. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a custom essay Trees and snow was a..