Ansel Adams I’m Not
During my recent trip up highway 395 in the middle of August, I stopped at the Manzanar relocation camp. I have stopped here before and after my first visit, I looked into different photographers takes on the camp. I was surprised to find that Ansel Adams had spent considerable time there and took one of his more well known images there.
The cemetery monument. Here is his image from the Library of Congress.
Ansel Adams' Cemetery Monument at Manzanar
When I went back this time, I remembered his image and tried to capture the same type of thing. It wasn’t an attempt to copy his work, more like an exercise in seeing like a master. It took me some time to get the camera angle and the clouds in a position that I liked, but it was fun and challenging to do so.
Here is my image.
There are differences between Adams’ image and mine. (Other than the obvious that mine will probably never be considered an iconic image or be in the Library of Congress.)
His is black and white. Mine is color. I don’t see in B&W and prefer color for my images. I used a different angle than he did and my sky has clouds and his doesn’t. I’m not sure that I like the empty sky in Adam’s image.
Also, the trees that were there in the background when Adams made his image are very different and I didn’t use them in my image because I wanted to include the clouds in the sky. And he actually made a great print in the harsh mid-day sun. I can’t do that to save my life, at least not yet.
I think it is important to try to emulate the masters, it is a great exercise in seeing different images and techniques in capturing what you see. The exercise is good because you can compare your final images to those that are universally accepted as being good.
My result? All-in-all, I think I did a good job. I’d really appreciate your feedback.
Tags: Ansel Adams, Eastern Sierra, Hwy 395, Images, Photography
Nice photo and good idea to challenge yourself to see like the masters.
Here’s my take on two photos that I could never come close to emulating….
When I look at AA’s photo I see the emphasis on the monument itself. The stark mountains in the background give a sense of desolation which is balanced by the flowers at the bottom of the monument and the well tended trees framing the monument….somebody cares. Note the present tense.
In your photo the monument looks more like an afterthought or a monument representing something that is no longer of great concern. At one time, somebody cared. Note the past tense. Sort of like the statue in my town of *somebody* riding a horse.
To me the emphasis in your photo is the mountain range. I glance at the monument and then focus on the mountains and clouds.
With AA’s photo I am drawn on a personal level to honor the sacrifice and acknowledge the desolation of the location. Yours, while a very nice photo, gives me the impression that at one time someone wanted future generations to remember those who sacrificed in this isolated area. Not quite as powerful.
It probably doesn’t help that, unlike you, I see in black and white.
Nice job!!
Interesting thoughts. I will have to reevaluate my image. Thank you.
Wow. I agree with you, Marti, great points!! You put it VERY well and much nicer than I would have seeing as I tend to bluntly critique the poor man like crazy.
It is a nice picture, but you lost focus on the subject. The story is missing.