Nature Light Photo

Ansel Adams I’m Not #2

In the early summer, I visited Manzanar Relocation Camp in The Owens Valley. I attempted to replicate the feelings that Ansel Adams captured in his famous image of the cemetary memorial and posted it here in an effort to get some criticism. Apparently, I  did not do a good job of getting the feeling across, according to the comments received.

A few months ago, I went back and tried again. Here is my second attempt followed by Ansel Adams’ image.

Ansel Adams Manzanar Cemetary Memorial from the Library of Congress

Remember, I am not trying to copy Ansel Adams’ image. I am trying to capture the essence of what he captured; the feeling and the mood.

Please tell me what you think.

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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.

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