wilfredo Posted March 10, 2007 Share #1  Posted March 10, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) I went over to the Bowers Museum today in Santa Ana, California, for an incredible exhibition of Ansel Adams prints. This is my first time actually seeing his prints after many book purchases, and one DVD purchase. This is truly a wonderful museum without the irritation of crowds. You can really enjoy the photographs with virtually no interruptions. I'll be going back for more. If you would like further information on the Bowers go to: The Bowers Museum of Cultural Art  I'm convinced that if Adams were alive today, he would be packing a Leica M8.  Cheers, Wilfredo Benitez-Rivera Photography Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted March 10, 2007 Share #2 Â Posted March 10, 2007 I had the chance to see Adams ORIGINAL PRINTS 20 years ago in Milano: an impressive view: books, even well printed, cannot give by far the feeling expressede in thos magnificent 50x60 or 50x70; M8?... remember AA used almost always 8"x10" monsters... I think more to a digital back for that kind of cameras... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest stnami Posted March 10, 2007 Share #3 Â Posted March 10, 2007 I'm convinced that if Adams were alive today, he would be packing a Leica M8.... then again he could be a adrenalin addicted base jumper packing a cameraphone Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
carstenw Posted March 10, 2007 Share #4 Â Posted March 10, 2007 I think he would probably be using 8x10" and scanning the results. Maybe a scanning back might be an option. He usually used the highest quality, highest resolution equipment out there. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnwolf Posted March 10, 2007 Share #5 Â Posted March 10, 2007 I just can't picture Ansel on that platform on the roof of his truck aiming a little M8 at the moonrise. Â But you're right, Wilfredo, once you see an actual print of his, you can hardly believe your eyes. Â John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mooky Posted March 10, 2007 Share #6 Â Posted March 10, 2007 Last night I watched a tape from my local library on Ansel Adams.....I had a hankering to get a refresh on the 'old-fashioned way' (hardly) after all the talk of digital and carrying a computer in the field - some do - yikes!!!! Â It was great to watch for all kinds of reasons, and it was refreshing to see and hear his attitude concerning the art form that is photography. Years ago when I studies photography in college, we studied as many of the 'masters' that we could, which in turn made me wonder, how many of this site's members have seen any of the videos of the masters? Â Maybe along with the books mentioned on the site, there could be recommendations for the video side of things......by the way, in the film, he shared his idea that the future of photography was going to get more and more electronic......any way, just thought I'd pass it along. The film was from 1981, "Ansel Adams, Photographer", 60 minutes in length, and had the distributor name of 'Arthur Cantor Films, 1-800-237-3801'...... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest WPalank Posted March 10, 2007 Share #7 Â Posted March 10, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) Great post Wilfredo! If any of our members ever find themselves in the Napa Valley, Mumm Cuvee' Sparkling Wines has a little known photography gallery in the back which is actually a very large space. Typically they will be showing up to 30 Ansel Adams prints at a time with various other artists. The tasting area of the winery is typically filled to the gills and the gallery (sadly) typically empty. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
devils-advocate Posted March 10, 2007 Share #8 Â Posted March 10, 2007 He'd be using a Hassy "H" series camera with a 40MP back, waiting eagerly for even more megapixels. The crazy artifcating which scanning backs produce with an movement in the subject would have annoyed the daylights out of him. I bet he'd like the M8, but rangefinder framing wasn't has style or vision. Â There was a large show of his work, presented alongside a superb collection of Eisenstad's work in Toronto recently. Seeing his prints in person is always a good reminder of what we can/should aspire to technically. Â That said, I think Ansel would find the quest for inkjet-compatible papers with Dmax and texture to match the best silver prints quite fascinating. I bet he'd be a major consultant to Epson, Hamnemule, Innova, etc. Â ..and he'd be a big Coldplay fan. Â (just kidding) Â - N. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shipatsea Posted March 10, 2007 Share #9 Â Posted March 10, 2007 ansel adams, photographer is also available on dvd from vetana editions: Ansel Adams Photographer DVD Â it's one of my favorite artist portraits, Â louis Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iron Flatline Posted March 10, 2007 Share #10 Â Posted March 10, 2007 In Video Journal #14, MR from LL visits Clyde Butcher who occasionally worked with AA. What I did not know is that Adams actually experimented with some kind of early digital stuff in the early 1980s. Butcher is unequivical about AA and digital, and says that he would DEFINITELY be digital at this point. Apparently he was not only a good photographer, but a bit of a gear head and tech freak. Â Devil's Advocate is right though, it would probably not be the M8, but the big Hasselblad back. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pfogle Posted March 10, 2007 Share #11 Â Posted March 10, 2007 I saw a show of AA's prints in SF about 20 years ago -as said above the prints are knockout large! Â The only disappointment was that the big ones were behind perspex rather than glass, so that killed the contrast a bit. Â Also there were lots of prints made from Hasselblad negs, and also 5x4 PN polaroid negs. So he did use a variety of formats... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wilfredo Posted March 10, 2007 Author Share #12 Â Posted March 10, 2007 Â That said, I think Ansel would find the quest for inkjet-compatible papers with Dmax and texture to match the best silver prints quite fascinating. I bet he'd be a major consultant to Epson, Hamnemule, Innova, etc. Â - N. Â Â I think you are absolutely right here. Adams was a pioneer always looking to improve the state of the art. I really do think he would be turned on to the M8 as something he could carry around and rely on for excellent DNG's. It would be a relief from all that lugging around of that bulky big equipment of his, especially when he was up there in age. I suspect he would also be intererested in some of the options offered above as well. I say this because even with the wonderful resolution you get from an 8X10 negative, examining his prints up close convinced me that you still get better resolution from a digital file. If inkjet compatible papers get to the point of actually matching silver gelatin prints in their tonal range, that will mark the final victory for the digital age. Â I'm also convinced Adams would go digital in this day and age (whether it's with the M8 or a Hassey with a digital back, or scans of his 8x10 negatives) because in addition to the convenience of a small camera, going digital would give him broader control and options in post-processing. He would have options not available in the darkroom and even his current body of work would see new interpretaions, and become even more breath taking! Â I think Adams would really get a kick out of the advances being made today. It's a brave new world, and Adams was always the jovial pioneer. Â Cheers, Wilfredo+ Benitez-Rivera Photography Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RSL Posted March 10, 2007 Share #13 Â Posted March 10, 2007 I'm convinced that if Adams were alive today, he would be packing a Leica M8. Â The 11 x 14 version or the 8 x 10 version? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
carstenw Posted March 10, 2007 Share #14 Â Posted March 10, 2007 I think Ansel Adams also had a Leica M, with which he took some pictures of friends like Gerogia O'Keefe. However, for his landscapes, he would surely use one of the highest resolution cameras he could find, which would probably mean 8"x10" drum-scanned. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wilfredo Posted March 10, 2007 Author Share #15 Â Posted March 10, 2007 Why did Adams shoot using 8X10 sheet film? It wasn't because he liked loading-up the old Woody with all his camera gear, it was because that's what gave him the best possible resolution at the time and best results. Times have changed. Adams from what I have read, especially from his autobiography (which I recommend, it is a personal journey into the history of 20th century photography in the U.S.) was clearly open to new technology, and often served as a consultant to big corporations such as Polaroid. Â I think Adams would rather enjoy this discussion, and is probably amused by it from the great beyond :-) If we were to say to him: " Mr. Adams, would you use this new digital techonology" he would say: "You bet, and I have finally been sold on a Leica." Â Let's keep a sense of humor :-) Â Wilfredo Benitez-Rivera Photography Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan States Posted March 10, 2007 Share #16 Â Posted March 10, 2007 In the video documentary done on Adams while he was still alive he lamented not being able to live long enough to see that possibilities of digital reproduction. He knew that digital imaging was the future and had he lived long enough he would have been immersed in the change. I agree, the 39mp Hasselblad would be his choice. Â Adams said he prefered the compositional advantages of viewing through the lens, and that although the RF cameras were fine tools for some, he could never get used to the concept. To each his own! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveEP Posted March 10, 2007 Share #17  Posted March 10, 2007 Adams said he prefered the compositional advantages of viewing through the lens, and that although the RF cameras were fine tools for some, he could never get used to the concept. To each his own!  There are times when I agree with him, especially for macro and close up  RF has it's place - and that is different for different people. For me it's a walkabout go anywhere solution. I am not a fanatic that will only ever use Leica or RF though. DSLRs have their time/place too.  It's 20+ years since I shot with medium format though, and I confess I never shot with large format. Maybe if I had .....  On the other hand..... how many of Ansels shots (% wise) did he throw away? He is seen as an inspiration by so many, but what % were actually published and how many were thrown away? I don't mean to be down on Ansel, I have several of his books, and hold him (and others) in high regard, but there are many modern day photographers I consider to be equally tallented...... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoffreyg Posted March 10, 2007 Share #18 Â Posted March 10, 2007 Didn't he do some shots with 6x6 as well? Or was that one of the Westons? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
carstenw Posted March 10, 2007 Share #19 Â Posted March 10, 2007 Ansel Adams also used a Hasselblad, yes. He used large format most of the time though. Â He once claimed that he would make about 12 good shots a year. By his standards, I make none. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveEP Posted March 10, 2007 Share #20 Â Posted March 10, 2007 He once claimed that he would make about 12 good shots a year. By his standards, I make none. Â Â Hmmm... maybe I am in your class too Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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