Ansel Adams

    Ansel Adams was a shy young boy, but a genius none the less. An earthquake aftershock in 1906 caused him to fall, breaking his nose and leaving a notable mark on him for the rest of his life. Because of his mark, he had trouble fitting in at the schools his parents tried to send him to. His father and aunt eventually home schooled him until he was sent to the Mrs. Kate M. Wilkins Private School, earning a legitimizing diploma, saying that he had finished his eighth grade year.
    Before becoming a photographer, Ansel found a passion in music, particularly in the piano. He studied it for around 12 years until it became his profession of choice. Later in life though, he chose to become a photographer instead. But his musical ingenious seemed to touch his photography. In 1927, Adams produced his first fully visualized photograph by the name of Monolith, the Face of Half Dome.
      Albert M. Bender, an insurance magnate and patron of arts and artists soon took Adams under his wing and helped him create his portfolio. His encouragement and financial support helped Adams to go farther with his photography, increasing his energy and passion blossomed along with his abilities.

    I choose this picture by Ansel Adams because the shadows against the rocks to the right make them stand out more than the ones to the left. The darkness of the rocks paired with the darkness of the water beneath it really make the dam stand out, but not too much that it takes all of the attention away from the whole picture itself. This picture seems to have so much going on, yet nothing at all. It's a beautiful and interesting photo and that's why I chose it.