Ansel Adams: The National Parks Service Photographs (Tiny Folio) [Hardcover]

Ansel Adams (Author), Alice Gray (Introduction)

Book Description

Series: Tiny Folio | Publication Date: July 1, 2004

In 1941 Ansel Adams was hired by the United States Department of the Interior to photograph America's national parks for a series of murals that would celebrate the country's natural heritage. Because of the escalation of World War II, the project was suspended after less than a year, but not before Adams had produced this group of breathtaking images, which illustrate both his early innovations and the shape of his later, legendary career as America's foremost landscape photographer. The invitation to photograph the nation's parklands was the perfect assignment for Adams, as it allowed him to express his deepest convictions as artist, conservationist, and citizen. These stunning photographs of the natural geysers and terraces in Yellowstone, the rocks and ravines in the Grand Canyon, the winding rivers and majestic mountains in Glacier and Grand Teton national parks, the mysterious Carlsbad Caverns, the architecture of ancient Indian villages, and many other evocative views of the American West demonstrate the genius of Adams' technical and aesthetic inventiveness. In these glorious, seminal images we see the inspired reverence for the wilderness that has made Ansel Adams' work a most enduring influence on the intertwining spirits of art and environmentalism, both so necessary for the preservation of our natural world.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

It was the United States Department of Interior that commissioned Ansel Adams to document the country's national parks. Though the project was suspended after just one year because of World War II, Adams was still able to create quite a few astonishingly beautiful photographs of the American landscape. Arresting images of Yellowstone's geysers, the Grand Canyon's ravines, Glacier and Grand Teton national parks' mountains and the southwest's ancient adobes fill the book's pages. Perusing this palm-sized volume is akin to touring the country's natural monuments with this most gifted nature photographer along as a companion. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"Its duotone photographs are the achingly beautiful stuff that dreams are made of." --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: Abbeville Press (July 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0789207753
• ISBN-13: 978-0789207753
• Product Dimensions: 4.7 x 4.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,228,494 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wee, but Wonderful, April 5, 2000

By 

Sarah May Clarkson (Huntingdon, Penn.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ansel Adams: The National Park Service Photographs (Tiny Folios) (Paperback)

This wee little book (4 inch by 4 inch format) dispels the notion that the work of Ansel Adams can only be appreciated in a coffee table book. Organized into 10 sections by location (Zion National Park, Yellowstone, etc.) and peoples (Native Americans and Their Lands), it shows Adams's work out west in our great national places like Grand Canyon and the Boulder Dam. The great appeal of this little book is that these fabulous black and white images retain their beauty and mystery even though reduced in size. I can, and I have, carried it with me throughout the house, or on a walk with the dog, or have thumbed through it while sipping a cup of coffee. It is well worn and well loved. And now I am going to order one for my cousin who will move out to Montana with her new husband.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars TINY folio cannot be stressed enough, April 10, 2007

By 

JSM (Massachusetts) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ansel Adams: The National Parks Service Photographs (Tiny Folio) (Hardcover)

too small to fully enjoy the pix, poor quality prints.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Great Introduction to Ansel Adams, December 21, 2002

By 

Matthew J. Fery (Dayton, OH USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ansel Adams: The National Park Service Photographs (Hardcover)

Anyone who doesn't know a lot about Ansel Adams but is interested in learning more about his work will appreciate and enjoy this cleverly organized pictorial. Structured by national parks, the reader will see many wonderful pictures, some classics, that will surely create a better impression as to what type of pictures Adams takes. A great gift book as well.