美國偉大的風景攝影師安塞爾·亞當斯(Ansel Adams)曾自述,他的人生「被內華達山脈這片大地的壯麗姿態所染色與調和」。這條將加州與北美大陸分隔開來的傳奇山脈,成為他畢生摯愛的風景。 這份對山河的眷戀,始於亞當斯十四歲時首次造訪優勝美地國家公園。 往後六十年,他憑藉對自然的執著與熱愛,被譽為二十世紀最偉大風景攝影師。
亞當斯於1902年出生於三藩市,1930年前,他一直以演奏鋼琴及教鋼琴為生。而在1920年代期間,他同時於優勝美地擔任導遊及管理員,帶領探險隊深入荒野,並以鏡頭記錄壯麗景色。 隨著對優勝美地的情感日益深厚,他對攝影的投入亦愈加專注。1927年,他創作出自認為「首幅真正的視覺化作品」—— 《巨岩,半圓頂之面》(Monolith, The Face of Half Dome,1927),這幅作品「呈現的不是現實中的景象,而是我心中對景物的感受。」 在三藩市著名藝術贊助人艾伯特·本德爾(Albert Bender)的支持下,他得以出版首個攝影作品集《高山之帕梅利安版畫》(Parmelian Prints of the High Sierras,1927),以及首本著作《陶斯普韋布洛》(Taos Pueblo,1930)。
早期的攝影風格深受十九世紀末「畫意攝影」傳統影響。 然而到了1930年,他與美國攝影大師保羅·斯特蘭德(Paul Strand)的深厚友誼,促使他逐漸遠離畫意攝影對暗房操作的重視。 他開始探索「純攝影」的本質與相機本身的創作可能性。 1932年,他與攝影師愛德華·韋斯頓(Edward Weston)共同創立了極具影響力的「f/64小組」,提倡純粹的攝影美學。翌年,他結識了阿爾弗雷德·斯蒂格利茲(Albert Stieglitz),後者於1936年在其紐約畫廊為亞當斯舉辦作品展覽。
作為技術上的創新者,亞當斯於1935年撰寫了自己的首本攝影手冊《攝影創作》(Making a Photograph)。 儘管時常因接受《時代》雜誌、柯達或蔡司等企業委約而分心,他仍創作出多幅經典美國風景影像,如《大提頓山與蛇河》(The Tetons and the Snake River,1942)及《晨曦,秋林》(Dawn, Autumn Forest,1948)等。 亞當斯於1984年辭世。
ANSEL ADAMS (1902–1984)
Moonrise, Hernandez, New Mexico, 1941
ANSEL ADAMS (1902–1984)
Moonrise, Hernandez, New Mexico, 1941
Ansel Adams (1902–1984)
Clearing Winter Storm, Yosemite National Park, California, 1938
ANSEL ADAMS (1902-1984)
Winter Sunrise, Sierra Nevada from Lone Pine, California, 1941
ANSEL ADAMS (1902-1984)
Clearing Winter Storm, Yosemite Valley, c. 1939
ANSEL ADAMS (1902-1984)
Clearing Winter Storm, Yosemite Valley, 1944
Ansel Adams (1902–1984)
Aspens, Northern New Mexico, 1958
ANSEL ADAMS (1902-1984)
Aspens, Northern New Mexico, 1958
ANSEL ADAMS (1902-1984)
Clouds, Yosemite Valley, 1945
ANSEL ADAMS (1902-1984)
Grand Tetons and the Snake River, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, 1942
ANSEL ADAMS (1902-1984)
Bridal Veil Fall, Yosemite Valley, 1927
ANSEL ADAMS (1902–1984)
Aspens, Northern New Mexico, 1958
ANSEL ADAMS (1902-1984)
Clearing Storm, Sonoma County Hills, 1951
ANSEL ADAMS (1902-1984)
Aspens, Northern New Mexico, 1958
ANSEL ADAMS (1902-1984)
Tenaya Creek, Dogwood, Rain, Yosemite Valley, 1948
ANSEL ADAMS (1902-1984)
Lake Precipice, 'Frozen Lake and Cliffs', Kaweah Gap, Sierra Nevada, 1932
ANSEL ADAMS (1902–1984)
Portfolio Two: The National Parks and Monuments; 15 Photographs by Ansel Adams
ANSEL ADAMS (1902-1984)
Surf Sequence, A-E, 1940
ANSEL ADAMS (1902-1984)
Aspens, Northern New Mexico, 1958
ANSEL ADAMS (1902-1984)
Ansel Adams: Portfolio VII
ANSEL ADAMS (1902-1984)
Tenaya Lake, Yosemite National Park, California, 1946
ANSEL ADAMS (1902-1984)
Portfolio Three: Yosemite Valley; Sixteen Original Prints by Ansel Adams
ANSEL ADAMS (1902-1984)
Vernal Fall, Yosemite Valley, 1948
ANSEL ADAMS (1902-1984)
Half Dome, Merced River, Winter, Yosemite Valley, California, 1938
Ansel Adams (1902–1984)
Church, Sunset, Rear, Ranchos de Taos, New Mexico, c. 1948
ANSEL ADAMS (1902-1984)
Portfolio Three: Yosemite Valley; Sixteen Original Prints by Ansel Adams
ANSEL ADAMS (1902-1984)
Clouds and Hills, Northern California, 1940s
ANSEL ADAMS (1902-1984)
Portfolio Three: Yosemite Valley
ANSEL ADAMS (1902-1984)
Portfolio Four: What Majestic Word, In Memory of Russell Varian
ANSEL ADAMS (1902–1984)
Moon and Half Dome, Yosemite National Park, California, 1960
ANSEL ADAMS (1902-1984)
Aspens, Northern New Mexico, 1958
ANSEL ADAMS (1902–1984)
Clearing Winter Storm, Yosemite National Park, California, 1938
ANSEL ADAMS (1902-1984)
El Capitan, Merced River, Yosemite Valley, 1948
ANSEL ADAMS (1902-1984)
Parmelian Prints of the High Sierras
ANSEL ADAMS (1902–1984)
Moonrise, Hernandez, New Mexico, 1941
ANSEL ADAMS (1902–1984)
Winter Sunrise, Sierra Nevada, from Lone Pine, California, 1944
ANSEL ADAMS (1902-1984)
Moonrise, Hernandez, New Mexico, 1941
ANSEL ADAMS (1902–1984)
Maroon Bells, near Aspen, Colorado, 1951
ANSEL ADAMS (1902–1984)
Maroon Bells, near Aspen, Colorado, 1951
Ansel Adams (1902–1984)
Stream, Sea, Clouds, Rodeo Lagoon, Marin County, 1962
ANSEL ADAMS (1902-1984)
Clearing Winter Storm, c. 1944
ANSEL ADAMS (1902-1984)
The Teton Range and the Snake River, 1942
ANSEL ADAMS (1902–1984)
Portfolio Three: Yosemite Valley; Sixteen Original Prints by Ansel Adams
ANSEL ADAMS (1902–1984)
The Tetons and the Snake River, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, 1942
ANSEL ADAMS (1902-1984)
Ansel Adams: Portfolio VII
ANSEL ADAMS (1902-1984)
Clouds, Yosemite Valley, 1945
ANSEL ADAMS (1902-1984)
Forest, Castle Rock State Park, California, 1962
ANSEL ADAMS (1902-1984)
Portfolio One: Twelve Photographic Prints by Ansel Adams
ANSEL ADAMS (1902-1984)
Dogwood, Yosemite Valley, California, 1938
ANSEL ADAMS (1902-1984)
Thunderstorm, Yosemite Valley, 1945