Vincent Ruiz

74752
2nd pd

Ansel Adams

Ansel Adams was a renowned American photographer and

environmentalist. Although his initial ambition was to become a pianist, he was
equally passionate about photography and it was only in the middle of his
twenties that he realized that he would make a better photographer than a
musician. By that time he had become a member of the Sierra Club and had
started hiking with them, developing a keen interest in its conservation. His
journey as photographer was long and tough and for a long period, he had to
sustain himself by accepting commercial assignments. But his genius was
apparent from the beginning and his very first portfolio was highly appreciated by
all. Later, he stated working for the conservation of what was left of the
wilderness in the American West. He not only fought to restrict use of national
park areas, but also fought to create new parks and wildernesses. Protection of
redwood forests, sea lions and otters was also close to his heart. In his later years
in 1963 he accepted a commission to produce a series of photographs to
commemorate the centennial celebration of the University of California. The
collection was published in 1967 a ‘Fiat Lux’ after the motto of the university. This
was also the time when art galleries, which refused to consider photography a
form of art, decided to show his works. Later in 2974, he travelled to France to
attend the Rencontres d’Arles festival as the guest of honor. The festival
celebrated his works through screening and exhibitions, not only in 1874, but also
in 1976, 1982 and 1985. Also in 1974, he had a major retrospective exhibition at
the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Cofounding the Center for Creative
Photography at the University of Arizona was another of his achievements during
this period.
Finally toward the end of his career, Adams spent more time in the cause of
environmentalism, focusing mainly on the protection of Yosemite from overuse
and also on Big Sur coastline of California. He also spent considerable time on
curating his negatives, reprinting them in order to meet the demand of the art
museums. On April 22, 1984, Adams died from cardiovascular disease at the
community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula in Monterey, California. He was
then 82 years old. He was survived his wife, two children and five grandchildren.
Vincent Ruiz
74752
2nd pd