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| Ansel Adams was a visionary figure in nature photography and wilderness preservation. He is seen as an environmental folk hero and a symbol of the American West, especially of Yosemite National Park. Adams' dedication to wilderness preservation, his commitment to the Sierra Club, and his signature black-and-white photographs inspire an appreciation for natural beauty and a strong conservation ethic. Adams first visited Yosemite in 1916 and was transfixed by the natural beauty it upheld. In 1919, at age 17, he had his first contact with the Sierra Club when he took a job as custodian of a lodge at the club headquarters in Yosemite National Park. Adams' role in the Sierra Club grew rapidly and the club became vital to his early success as a photographer. His first photographs and writings were published in the Sierra
Club Bulletin. Involved politically in the club, Adams suggested proposals for improving parks and wilderness preservation, and soon became known as both an artist and defender of Yosemite. In 1934, Adams was elected as a member of the Board of Directors of the Sierra Club, a role he maintained for 37 years. His tenure spanned the years that the club evolved into a powerful national organization that lobbied to create national parks and protect the environment from destructive development projects. Oaktree Snowstorm, Yosemite National Park elaborates on the genuine beauty of the park. Adams made images during all seasons of the year at Yosemite, fascinated with the delicate yet solid structures of nature. This image has become known as one of the most successful single-artist poster series of all time. Ansel Adams’ delight in Yosemite Park inspired him to thrive photographically and artistically, while showing the world the wonders of its splendor.  (For Grades 9-12) What vantage point was this image taken from? What Elements of Art can you find in this photograph? Line? Shape? Texture? Color? Why do you think Ansel Adams thought this scene was beautiful? Where would you go to take a photograph of beauty? What would you include in your photograph? |
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Ansel Easton Adams American, 1902-1984 Oaktree Snowstorm, Yosemite National Park, CA Gelatin Silver Print, ca. 1948 Collection Museum of Photographic Arts Gift of Murray and Elaine Galinson 1987.034.006 © Trustees of The Ansel Adams Publishing Rights Trust |
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