Ansel Adams, Edward Weston - two of the best photographers of the American West, of deserts and of mountains, and in Weston's case, of human figures and artifacts. Sorry I won't get to Boston for this exhibit but thanks for the story about it.
9
The Altamont Pass in Northern California between Livermore and the San Joaquin Valley is not barren desert. Or desert at all. It is (over grazed) pasture land of green grass in the rainy season, turning yellow in the summer and munched down to nothing by the cows. A different environmental calamity entirely.
12
“All scientific predictions say this will grow worse unless strong action is taken soon.”
Adams would be saddened to learn of the planned closure of the one remaining nuclear power plant in California- Diablo Canyon. Especially now that the scientific understanding of climate change is well understood and the threat imminent.
Unlike the current group of urban lawyers directing the Sierra Club, Ansel Adams’ views on nature were born of true experience and spiritual relationship with the Sierra Nevada. As a rational person, Ansel understood that while we need to set aside land for wilderness, we also need to allow sufficient mining and energy generation to meet civilizations needs.
As a member of the board at the Sierra Club, Ansel led the effort to oust David Brower, who opposed the Diablo Canyon plant. Ansel won that fight: Brower was removed, and Diablo Canyon was built. Unfortunately, several years later the Sierra Club turned decidedly anti-nuclear, and Ansel resigned from the board.
The rest is history: Anti-nuclear sentiment grew, plans for additional nuclear plants in California were shelved. Its sad to think what could have been, have Ansel’s reasonable sentiments prevailed. Certainly California would not now be in the position of producing 200-300 grams CO2 per kwh versus nuclear powered France’s 80.
http://environmentalprogress.org/big-news/2018/9/11/california-and-germany-decarbonization-with-alternative-energy-investments
3
@Stephen: No, we wouldn't have been producing so much CO2; but we would be producing lots of nuclear waste that we still have no idea what to do with. And Diablo Canyon was built near an earthquake fault; and San Onofre was not properly engineered and had to be shut down. Nuclear energy, with present technology, is a Faustian bargain.
17
Adams brought us nature in a new light and intensity, hope to se the exhibit.
2
Great photographs. We loved them all “The Tetons and Snake River, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming,” by Ansel Adams, is a wonderful masterpiece. Thanks again.
10
It is not so much the objects or scenes photographed but the light itself that makes Adams's work so completely awesome, stunning, and worthy of hours of looking, over and over again. His ability to capture that is what sets him apart, by far.
21
Seeking the image. The thrill of the chase. Chasing the light, losing the light. Dawn photo hikes. Saturated images after the rain. The B&W zone theory (10 zones!). Thank you Ansel Adams.
15
Yosemite was seen my me through Adam’s eyes and his photos captured my imagination . When I drove there for the first time a few years ago with my sweetheart it felt as if I was in a dream - a magnificent amazing out of this world Dream that the many years of looking at his photos had promised me would be one of the most treasured moments of my life !
Some people come into this world and leave it a much much better place . He definitely did with his gifted photography and his talent for the most amazingly heart warming shots of nature - pure raw nature that shouts out the glory of Creation .
15
I live right around the corner from the spot where Adams photographed the angel headstone in the Long Beach cemetery. The surrounding landscape has changed dramatically since that time in the late 40's when, what is now Signal Hill, is no longer covered in oil derricks. Homes and businesses have replaced most of the oil production but the headstone and the little cemetery endures. The irony expressed in Adam's image has been softened and obscured by, of all things, mature trees.
21