Madi Plummer

          Ansel Adams was a very interesting man. He was not only a photographer he was also a great musician. Ansel, at the age of twelve, taught himself how to play the piano. He started taking lessons and his love for music started taking over is life and ended up taking the place of formal schooling. For over a decade piano was is primary job. Eventually photography was is ultimate love and he replaced music with photography overall. His first fully visualized photograph, monolith, the Face of Half Dome was created in 1927.

          He wasn't always a put together adult. When Ansel was younger he had trouble in school. He was naturally shy and he had an "earthquaked" nose. It was not until he was older that he realized that he might have been diagnosed as hyperactive, and there is a slight chance he may have suffered from dyslexia. Because Ansel was not successfull in most schools his father and aunt had to tutor him at home. Ultimately he earned a "legitimizing diploma" from the Mrs.Kate M. Wilkins Private School. That diploma was equvalent to having completed the eighth grade.

         From 1916 to the day of his death he spent most of his time at Yosemite Sierra. When he hiked, climbed, and explored he gained self-esteem and confidence. He joined the Sierra Club in 1919 and he spent the first four summers in Yosemite Valley as a "keeper" of the clubs LeConte Memorial Lodge. He later met his wife in Yosemite. Her name was Virginia Best, they were married in 1928 and the two ended up having two children.

          Ansel Adams hes been criticized for failing to include humans or evidence of humanity in his landscape photographs. taking photos was his calling and his passion. I chose this picture of his because it shows water in two completely different forms. It shows it being calm, everlasting, and pure. It also explains how sometimes it's not always happy and smooth it's rough and difficult. I also chose this picture because it's very calming and pleasing to look at.