Ansel Adams, 'Yosemite Valley', 1942
My research task was to compare a Historical Photographer and a Contemporary Photographer, for me I chose the two photographers and photographer's works that stood out to me more, that would be Stephen Shore and Ansel Adams, with their own vision on Yosemite Valley.
This beautiful landscape, with its breath taking views, mountain peeks and streams these two photographers have chosen to display their work using this amazing place.
Ansel Adams quotes "Yosemite Valley, to me, is always a sunrise, a glitter of green and golden wonder in a vast edifice of stone and space. I know of no sculpture, painting or music that exceeds the compelling spiritual command of the soaring shape of granite cliff and dome, of patina of light on rock and forest, and of the thunder and whispering of the falling, flowing waters. At first the colossal aspect may dominate; then we perceive and respond to the delicate and persuasive complex of nature."
Comparing these two images the two photographers create a different approach to each. Ansel using his depth of scenery and Shore uses the unique view point of a typical family vacation.
Ansel's is looking more at the depth of the mountain and the view, his old fashioned black and white concept creates a more individual look, making it easier to tell it apart. His use of deep blacks and bright white, but the usage of tonnage on the peeks of the mountains helps to pin point what is what. Ansel's image shows more of the beauty of Yosemite Valley and the dramatic scenery that has been provided to us by mother nature.
Shore's picture shows us a family relaxing by the water in Yosemite Valley and it also gives us a little bit of that breath taking view, but Shore mostly wants to show the family and how the greatness of the Valley is enclosing around them. Obviously Shore's image is in colour and you can see it must be a hot summer's day and in the image you get the shine of the water as you do in Ansel's image, however in Shore's image there is not much few of he mountain but in Ansel's the mountain it is one of the key view points within the photograph.
I find that both wanted to capture a different beauty in each, each wanted to display the Valley as either the greatness and perfection to it, or the mere fact that any family can go there and witness its greatness and beauty. Ansel quotes "I know of no sculpture, painting or music that exceeds the compelling spiritual command of the soaring shape of granite cliff and dome", this here I can see that Ansel wanted to capture more of the mountain view and the stream rather than the people that visit it, he is most obviously blown away by Yosemite Valley that he made constant trips to this remarkable scenery.
Shore seems as to look down onto the family in his photograph and to open up the valley within the inside, looking at how this place can bring a fun day to a family, however in the image there is not much of a view, but there are trees and parts of hills, but the view of the shining water and clear blue sky gives a contrast between the dark colours of the trees and the mountains.
Both images are amazing but the subtlety of each is far apart, but both images are a clear focus on beauty.
Shore's picture shows us a family relaxing by the water in Yosemite Valley and it also gives us a little bit of that breath taking view, but Shore mostly wants to show the family and how the greatness of the Valley is enclosing around them. Obviously Shore's image is in colour and you can see it must be a hot summer's day and in the image you get the shine of the water as you do in Ansel's image, however in Shore's image there is not much few of he mountain but in Ansel's the mountain it is one of the key view points within the photograph.
I find that both wanted to capture a different beauty in each, each wanted to display the Valley as either the greatness and perfection to it, or the mere fact that any family can go there and witness its greatness and beauty. Ansel quotes "I know of no sculpture, painting or music that exceeds the compelling spiritual command of the soaring shape of granite cliff and dome", this here I can see that Ansel wanted to capture more of the mountain view and the stream rather than the people that visit it, he is most obviously blown away by Yosemite Valley that he made constant trips to this remarkable scenery.
Shore seems as to look down onto the family in his photograph and to open up the valley within the inside, looking at how this place can bring a fun day to a family, however in the image there is not much of a view, but there are trees and parts of hills, but the view of the shining water and clear blue sky gives a contrast between the dark colours of the trees and the mountains.
Both images are amazing but the subtlety of each is far apart, but both images are a clear focus on beauty.
