Examples: The Making of 40 Photographs by Ansel Adams | My Photo Bookshelf
To most landscape photographers — or photographers in general — Ansel Adams needs no introduction. Considered by many to be one of the greats and an early pioneer of the craft, he was, I must admit, someone I knew very little about before owning this book. I had watched a few videos and heard plenty of discussion about him and his photography, but to truly understand his work, I needed to explore it more closely. After reviewing the options available, I felt The Making of 40 Photographs was the best choice to do so.
Synopsis
"How did you make this photograph?" This is the question that Ansel Adams was asked repeatedly during his lifetime. In this book, Adams shares the circumstances surrounding the making of many of his most celebrated photographs. Each of the 40 photographs are superbly reproduced in duotone, is accompanied by an entertaining and informative narrative that combines reminscence of people and places with precise recall of technical details and aesthetics considerations.
The specific technical information on camera and lens, filters, exposure times, developing, and printing provided in each example illustrates his approach and methods and will assist amateur and professional photographers alike in learning the craft. Through this case study approach, Adams' philosophy of craft and creativity unfolds: his credos of visualisation, image management, and the Zone System are demonstrated: and the colour story of a lifetime devoted to photography is revealed.
My thoughts about the book
The premise of this book — and the reason I bought it — is that it showcases forty photographs taken by Ansel Adams throughout his career, each accompanied by his own words describing the story behind the image. He shares the physical experience of making the photograph, why and how it was taken, and, of course, the technical details such as the camera, film, and settings used.
The book opens with an introduction by Adams, followed by forty chapters, each featuring one image and a short essay. Some may assume the book focuses solely on landscapes, and although that genre does dominate, I was pleasantly surprised by the variety of work included — from still life to portraiture. It reminded me how little I actually knew about the full range of his photography. Some images resonated with me more than others — particularly those classic vistas or more intimate scenes — but that didn’t detract from the enjoyment of reading the stories behind each one.
Being Ansel, he never shied away from discussing the technical side of his work. That’s probably the part I found hardest to connect with, as I’ve never photographed using large-format film cameras. At times he delves into great technical depth, and I found myself skimming through those sections. I’m far more interested in the personal stories — and thankfully, there’s plenty of that to keep the reader engaged.
As I mentioned above, before reading this book, I knew an embarrassingly small amount about Ansel Adams, and buying it was my attempt to change that. If, like me, you’re curious to look deeper into his work, Examples: The Making of 40 Photographs is a great introduction to Ansel Adams’s photography and a worthy addition to any bookshelf.
Book Details
Softcover
Size: 231mm x 266mm
Pages: 192
Availability at the time of writing: Although I purchased a used copy, this book is still in print. Available from Amazon.