Landscape Photographer Biographies

1) Classic: Ansel Adams

Ansel Easton Adams

• Born February 20, 1902
• Died April 22, 1984
• an American photographer and environmentalist
• best known for his black and white photographs of the American West, especially in Yosemitee National Park
• He learned basic darkroom technique working part-time for a San Francisco photo finisher.
• Adams avidly read photography magazines, attended camera club meetings, and went to photography and art exhibits.
• With retired geologist and amateur ornithologist Francis Holman, who he called "Uncle Frank", he explored the High Sierra, in summer and winter, developing the stamina and skill needed to photograph at high elevation and under difficult weather conditions.
• One of his most famous photographs was Moon and Half Dome, Yosemite National Park, California.
• In 1940, Ansel put together A Pageant of Photography, the most important and largest photography show in the West to date, attended by millions of visitors.With his wife, Adams completed a children's book and the very successful Illustrated Guide to Yosemite Valley during 1940 and 1941. He also taught photography by giving workshops in Detroit and his pupils included future photographer Todd Webb. Adams also began his first serious stint of teaching in 1941 at the Art Center School of Los Angeles, which included the training of military photographers.

This photo has the element of value because of the contrast of the bright mood and the shadows at the bottom. There is also some texture because you can see the ridges on the rock and can immagine what it feels like.

2) Contemporary: Heidi Kirkpatrick

 

This photo has symmetry, and lines from the parallel cigarettes wrapped in what appears to be newspaper.

• Born in 1959 in Springfield, Ohio
• Experience-- 2004-Present  Photography Instructor, The Northwest Academy, Portland, OR
  
  1997-2000      Head of Photographic Education, Safelight Darkroom, Portland, OR
  
    Teachers Assistant to Jim Henderson, Master Black and White Photography at Portland State University, Portland, OR
  Teachers Assistant to Richard Kraft, Basic Photography, 
• Professional Activities
• Cascade Aids Project Art Auction, Art Donor
  
  • Visiting Artist, Visual Communication through Photography, St. Mary's Academy
  • Visiting Artist, Pinhole and Toy Camera at Oregon College of Art and Craft
  • Curator, Silver Gallery
• Darkroom Assistant to John Barna, Head of Photography Department
• known for the warm and callming aspects of her photos
• soft corners, dents and dings
• reveal narratives of family snapshots, or complexities of the feminine allure
• her photos transform found objects into playful pieces of art