Question

By 1839, three Europeans—Louis Daguerre, Joseph-Nicéphore Niepce, and William Henry Fox Talbot—had independently developed a way to make images that would not disappear. With their inventions, photography became a reality. At first, photography was immensely popular for taking family portraits. Then it was used to imitate painting, until it gradually became accepted as an art form on its own almost one hundred years later.

When Ansel Adams began taking photographs of Yosemite in 1916, he was young and so was photography. His first camera was a Kodak Box Brownie. Through the years he tried dozens of different cameras, from a heavy 8 x 10-inch wooden camera that used glass plates, to a small 35mm camera, and even a Polaroid camera that gave him immediate results.
Before he took a photograph, he visualized the scene as he expected it to look. Then he put his camera away, got out his “battered notebook, [and found] a convenient rock, stump, or fender to lean upon.” On his exposure chart he recorded film speed, lens, filter, shutter speed, zone number, and any suggestions for developing the print in the darkroom.
In addition to his ability to visualize a scene, his ability in the darkroom helped him become a master photographer.


Explain how the steps Ansel Adams took for each photograph reflected his philosophy "that there are no shortcuts to excellence." Use evidence from the text. Write 1-2 paragraphs

Answer 1

Ansel Adams' meticulous approach to photography is reflective of his philosophy that there are no shortcuts to excellence. His pre-photograph preparation was extensive, meticulously noting details such as film speed, lens, filter, shutter speed, and zone number. He also gave detailed instructions on how to develop the prints in the darkroom. This level of preparation and attention to detail was necessary to ensure that the final photograph was of the highest quality.

Adams was also a master in the darkroom, where he used various techniques to manipulate and enhance the image. He took the time to ensure that he achieved the desired result, rather than relying on shortcuts that could lead to substandard results. His commitment to excellence was also reflected in his willingness to spend time in the darkroom perfecting the image and ensuring that it met his own exacting standards.

Adams' philosophy of excellence was also evident in his approach to photography as an art form. He believed that photography should be taken seriously as an art form, rather than just a tool for producing family portraits. This belief was reflected in his willingness to invest time and energy into taking photographs, rather than relying on quick, rushed snapshots. His dedication to excellence and his commitment to making photography a respected art form is a testament to his philosophy that there are no shortcuts to excellence.