by JESSEKA KADYLAK


Photo courtesy of Ansel Adams
“Self-Portrait, Monument Valley, Utah,” 1958. © 2007 The Ansel Adams Publishing Rights Trust.

Ansel Adams began his career by shooting landscape photographs in the “pictorialist” style—producing a soft-focus photo printed on textured paper. Later in life he created Group f/64, which was named after a camera aperture that displays maximum sharpness and visualized the depth of field.

Leena Jayaswal, an American University photography professor said Group f/64 looked at minute details.

Examples of these styles and more are on display at the Corcoran Gallery of Art. The Adams exhibit includes 125 images of architecture, portraits, landscapes and his self-portrait.

Adams’ self-portrait is unique because it is not a photograph that shows his face. “Self-Portrait” is the shadow of Adams standing next to his camera in Monument Valley, Utah.

If you are interested in seeing an actual portrait of Adams, be sure to browse the wall between the entrances to the Ansel Adams exhibit and Annie Leibovitz exhibit for a portrait taken by Leibovitz. (Her exhibit is running until Jan. 13, 2008.)


Photo courtesy of Ansel Adams
“Monolith–The Face of Half Dome, Yosemite National Park,” 1927. © 2007 The Ansel Adams Publishing Rights Trust.

While the Adams’ exhibit displays images from the 1920s to the 1970s, the majority is made up of landscapes of Yosemite National Park and Sierra Nevada from his early years. Adams reprinted some of his early images that were originally presented on rough paper and enlarged them on glossy paper. For example, the reprint of “Monolith–The Face of Half Dome” allows the viewer to see much more detail than the original print.

“He is a master printer,” Jayaswal said. “He really defined what good printing is.”

Adams created a system where the photographer pre-visualizes an image, which is called the “Zone System,” she added.

In addition to showing his skills, Jayaswal said that the gallery is significant to both photographers and non photographers because his images are used for environmental purposes.

“He is most well-known through photos in magazines and calendars from the Sierra Club,” Jayaswal said.

Adams was a member of the Sierra Club and according to the grassroots environmental organization’s Web site, members and supporters work together to protect communities and the planet.

The Ansel Adams exhibit runs through Jan. 27, 2008.