Ansel Adams, Master of the Dark(room)
Ansel Adams was as talented in the darkroom as he was behind the camera. A good demonstration of this is his well-known photo, Moonrise, Hernandez, New Mexico, 1941. Adams saw the scene while driving back from a day of shooting in the New Mexico mountains. The sun was going down, so he knew he had to work fast. For his vision of the shot, he had to get it while the sunlight was on the tombstones in the churchyard. In his haste, he was able to get the shot, but he wasn't happy with the exposure.
Being a wizard in the darkroom, Adams knew he could improve on the negative. In his early versions of the print, there is more detail in the clouds and sky, and less contrast overall.
Later, over a period of many years, Adams' prints of this shot became darker and more dramatic, until eventually the streaky clouds higher up are completely dark, and the bright clouds on the horizon become very interesting. I think this later print is far superior to the one above.
I guess the moral of the story is that even one of the leading lights of the pure photography movement, was willing to manipulate his photos to achieve his vision.
Also, original prints can sell for over $500,000. Wow!
Being a wizard in the darkroom, Adams knew he could improve on the negative. In his early versions of the print, there is more detail in the clouds and sky, and less contrast overall.
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| Image from http://www.photographyuncapped.com |
Later, over a period of many years, Adams' prints of this shot became darker and more dramatic, until eventually the streaky clouds higher up are completely dark, and the bright clouds on the horizon become very interesting. I think this later print is far superior to the one above.
 |
| Image from http://www.artfixdaily.com/images/pr/Mar9_Lot-99-Ansel-Adams972x747.jpg |
I guess the moral of the story is that even one of the leading lights of the pure photography movement, was willing to manipulate his photos to achieve his vision.
Also, original prints can sell for over $500,000. Wow!
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