Ansel Adams: 1902-1984 
 When I was very young I purchased a Brownie Starlet camera for 50 cents. From there on I was obsessed with photography. I started printing my own B X W prints and learned about the master of nature photography Ansel Adams. His work truly inspired me. In 1967 my family moved form Ohio to California. finally was close
enough to Yosemite to see the park that I had viewed only in print.
This shot of Ansel Adams in Yosemite National Park California was shot in 1965, by Ted Spiegel.
 Ansel Adams is was born in San Francisco in 1902, This shot of the Family House
on Dunes San Francisco California, was taken in 1903, by Charles Hitchcock.
Adams Adams gave up a promising musical career when he discovered that a photograph could capture the emotion and awe with which he viewed the natural beauty of the world..
 Moon over Half Dome (in Yosemite) was one of the first of Ansel's photographs that I viewed. From then on I was obsessed with photography. I learned all about the zone system-the 10 shade values that are printable in black and white. I was determined to expose the beauty of nature to those who would look at my work,
with as much impact as Ansel made on me.
 In the process of making this page I discovered an Image of Ansel's that I so not remember seeing but it is remarkably similar to one that I shot. Had I seen
it before I shot the same tree, I may have done a better job of it then i did.
The tree, a Jeffrey Pine on top of Sentinel Dome in Yosemite is now dead. It
died in the drought during the '80's. They had previously tried to find out how
old
it was by taking borings. The tree was so hard that the bits just broke. It turns
out that the tree predated Christ.
 Here is the same tree as I saw it in the late 1960s.
The impact of Ansel Adams on my work is evident,especially considering that I may have not seen his shot of the tree before I shot it.
To learn more about Ansel Adams visit The History Place - Best of Ansel Adams.
Take a look at some of his work. I have been disappointed by the quality of the reproductions on the net. I recommend that you look at some of the many books available on his work.
Here are some of the best sites that I have found relating to his photography.
The Ansel Adams Gallery
Corbis - Features: Ansel Adams at Corbis
Ansel Adams on the Internet (Artcyclopedia)
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