From Publishers Weekly
These classic photographs were selected by the late Ansel Adams himself to be permanently representative of his work. Included are familiar scenic compositions like Moonrise, Hernandez and Half Dome, Yosemite, but there are also portraiture and closeups of patterns in nature. Alinder, director of Friends of Photography, chronicles Adams's life and describes his particular development in which perception of subtle tonalities came to define the photographer's vision. He tells also of great technical achievements (such as the "zone system" for exposure and printing) and this master photographer's related sensibilities as a classical musician and ardent nature conservationist. Museum of Modern Art curator Szarkowski appraises the impact Adams had on America's appreciation of itself. BOMC and Photography Book Club selections.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Product Description
Introduction by John Szarkowski Essay by James AlinderIn the last years of his life Ansel Adams selected the seventy-five images that he believed represented the finest examples ofthe quality and breadth of his artistic legacy. Those images he designated for exhibition throughout the country as "The Museum Set" and published in this essential volume:Classic Images.Classic Imagesincludes many of Adams' most famous and best-loved photographs and encompasses the full scope of his work: elegant details of nature, architectural studies, portraits, and the breathtaking landscapes for which he is revered. The latter range from his beloved Yosemite to the Pacific Coast, the Southwest, Alaska, Hawaii, and the Northwest.The portfolio is preceded by an eloquent introduction by John Szarkowski, former Director of the Department of Photography at New York's Museum of Modern Art. An authoritative biographical essay- and a detailed chronology - by James Alinder further establish Classic Imagesas required reading for a full understanding of Adams' development as apre-eminent American artist.
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