ANSEL EASTON ADAMS

Ansel Easton Adams was an American photographer and environmentalist. He was best known for his black and white photographs of the American West, especially in Yosemite. He was born February 20^th, 1902, and lived until April 22^nd, 1984. Growing up, Adams was an only child. He grew up in an upper class family in San Francisco, California. Adams was a hyperactive child, and he was often sick and had few friends. His home and surroundings became his entertainment. In 1916, he first visit Yosemite National Park, and using a Kodak Brownie box camera, he took his first photographs. The following year, with better equipment he returned and took more pictures. He learned basic darkroom techniques in San Francisco working for a photo finisher. He also read photography magazines, attended club meetings, and went to photography and art exhibits. 

In 1927, Adams produced his first portfolio, Parmelian Prints of the High Sierras. He used his Korona view camera with glass plates and a dark red filter.  His first portfolio was a success, earning nearly $3,900 and he came to realize how important that his carefully crafter photos were reproduced to best effect. In the 1931 Adams was able to put on his first solo museum exhibition at the Smithsonian Institution, which featured 60 prints taken in the High Sierra. Adam continued to be very successful, and with Fred Archer, he developed the Zone System as a way to determine proper exposure and adjust the contrast of a final print. His photographs are widely distributed as calendars, posters, and in books.

This photo was taken in color, and the photo was edited to black and white. I also used a vignette setting, which darkened the outer corners. The light background contrasts with the dark borders. The photo was taken with no flash, and from a low angle. It was cropped so that there was no unnecessary lines or shadows. 

This photo was also taken in color. Then the contrast was adjusted, it was cropped, and the edges were blurred. It was also edited to black and white settings. The subjects face is the main focus, and it is a sharp contrast compared to the background. The picture was taken without a flash, and from an straight ahead angle. 

This photo has a strong background. The green is bright, and it contrasts with Aimee’s eyes.  It could have been cropped better at the elbow, but otherwise the cropping helps centralize Aimee’s face. The color was slightly adjusted to be brighter, but white shirt also helps make it stand out. The photo was taken from a low angle, and both the subject and the background appeal to the eye. 

This picture was taken at the Alhambra in Spain. The architecture, the shapes, and the bright colors make it appealing to the eye. The reflection on the water adds to the dynamic balance because they eyes is not attracted to one single part of the picture but the whole photograph itself. This picture could have been cropped better, and the shadows on the back wall could have been eliminated.

This picture was taken in Spain is of Antoni Gaudi’s work.  The depth, the angle, and the patterns in this picture stand out. It has three levels of depth, the mosaic benches, the castle-like building, and the city lines in the background. All angles of the photo are interesting to look at; however, it is a bit busy.  There is not a definite structure, but it does not have excess dead space.

This photo was taken on a rainy day through a moving bus window. It has a blurred effect, and the telephone wires are prominent lines. The building is weighted in the bottom right of the nine grid zone. It does not have bright colors, however the subtle details attract the eye. This is not a close up of any particular object, but it has dynamic balance because the eye is not attracted to one single part of the picture. In retrospect, I think the edges should have been cropped a bit.

1. This photograph has a primary subject of a bridge. The bridge is positioned to the left. On the right side of the nine zone grid there is grass and in the background there is a pattern of cement squares. This is a still shot and has contrast between the colors of the bridge and grass.

2. The cranes are the primary object and are weighted towards the left. In the background the tree has dynamic balance because when the object is put into a certain space so the eye is not attracted to one single part of the picture but the whole photograph itself. The angle and closeness of the cranes also adds to the composition. 

3. The ribbon and pearl bracelet are the focus of this photo. It is centered and bright, the dark purple background matches the thumbnail and right. Overall the subtle edges and lines are noticeable in the composition. The photo has no negative space, because having a blank spot or too much space that has nothing would make the picture look boring.

4. This photo has a contrast of dark and light. The trees and dark clouds are important, and the lighter warmer background adds to the dynamic balance, which is when the object is put into a certain space so the eyes is not attracted to one single part of the picture but the whole photograph itself. 

5. This photo of water has dynamics that keep the movement of the eyes exploring the picture, and makes all the angles of the photo interesting to look at. It is a close up of a water fountain, and has static balance, which is when the object appears frozen or immobile. 

6. This photo is angled, and the white flower is positioned in the upper left corner. The flower matches the hair tie, and the background is blurred. The lines in her hair and of her face add to the structure which is dependent on the line, shape, and position of the photo. Negative space exists due to the borders of the photo. 

September 8, 2011

1. The flowers in this photograph are the primary subject, and the ocean is the background. Together, they create an eye catching dynamic or dynamic balance. The lighting on the flowers helps them pop out, which is important to the composition.  The viewpoint of this was not eye level, I shot from slightly angled under the flowers, and pretty close up.  I also cropped the picture so there is no negative space.

2. There are three leading lines in this photo, the fog, the mountain, and the water line. The rounded curve of the photo gives a dramatic effect, and its eye catching. The photo is weighted to the left of the nine zone grid, and it is zoomed, but not too close. There is not too much negative space and the balance of the water, hill, and sky interact well with the frame. The colors also contrast each other well.

3. This photo is a close up of stacked rocks; the camera lens is focused on the rocks, but not on the background. The viewpoint is at the ground level of the stones, and the symmetry and precision of this subject draws the eye to this primary object that is weighted towards the center of the frame. The structure of the line, shape, and position of the stones also supports the overall balance of the photograph.

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