Photographing the range of light: Works by Ansel Adams and John Sexton

摘要

In 1979, Ansel Adams published a collection of his photographs titled "Yosemite and the Range of Light."[1] Ansel, more than many photographers, realized that light falling on a scene is both a challenge, as well as a creative opportunity. The challenge being that one-size-fits-all automation of scene capture cannot handle the great changes in light intensity. Creative opportunities, with variations from deep shade with uniform illumination to strong direct sun and dark shadows, can make photographs more interesting and compelling. During my many years working closely with Ansel, I realized that the true subject matter of a successful photograph is indeed light. Ansel codified the techniques of capturing and rendering the natural scene with his Zone System of exposure and development. The key element of Adams' Zone System is the ability to visualize within the limits of the photographic materials. This talk will illustrate through Adams' photographs, and my own images, the importance of interpreting - rather than mere recording - in creative photography. It will include examples of photographs before and after the resourceful steps involved in expressive printmaking, which create an image that not only is a representation of what we see, but also what we feel.