Pixiq

Replay from an earlier post.

It is very likely that the great photographer, Ansel Adams would have truly liked the idea of HDR. After all, he invented a method of expanding the tonal scale of film. His zone system was his formula and a gift to us for achieving detail in both the highlights and the deep shadows. The most common perception of Ansel Adams is his amazing craftsmanship, his use of lenses, his printing style and his zone system. But there is another reason to appreciate his work.

It took me a long time to realize the deeper Ansel. I too was caught in the dazzle of his imagery. However, his greatness is due to much more than the common perception of his work. His photographs are ultimately worthwhile because of their metaphorical depth.

I believe Ansel would have taken the concepts we know today to the highest level of craftsmanship. Yet, somehow I believe we would not have the amazing images that he gave to us if he had our technology. They would not be the same. They would not be what we know of his work. Yes, Ansel would have been an even better craftsman. And yes, I believe the images would have been in color.  We may not have the same presentation of some of his most adored images. There would be huge prints and great praise for his work. We would likely have beautiful imagery.

The difference I would imagine is that Ansel would have produced magical images that not only looked magnificent, but that pulled us into a spiritual relationship with his subjects. Ansel, like all great artists, shows us a much deeper sense of our world. The subjects are not a record of objects. The images are not simply copies of the world. The image concept is not entirely about sharpness or depth of field in spite of his use of tiny apertures. The palette is not meant to be shocking or gaudy. Grunge is certainly not the look.

Craft is only part of the creative act. The real difference Ansel and his peers had over most HDR users today, is his amazing employment of vision and metaphor.

The images have always shown dignity for the subject. The camera was a tool. The zone scale was a means. The lens was an eye. The intent was perspective. The magic was the vision. The purpose was for clarity. The beauty was life. The goal was depth-of-soul.

These goals are the central theme in the works of all great photography. Photographers such as Edward Weston and Minor White and others, were in a quest for meaning. Photography in its deepest form is about life. It is about us. It is about me!  And… it is about you!

Would Ansel use High Dynamic Range?

I believe the answer is - very likely yes!

Would his work look like most of what is out there today?

I believe the answer is definitely - NO!

I believe it would be much better. But please don't miss the point I am making.

"A great photograph is one that fully expresses what one feels, in the deepest sense, about what is being photographed."   - Ansel Adams 

© John Neel

THIS POSTING AS WELL AS ALL PHOTOGRAPHS AND GALLERY IMAGES ARE COPYRIGHT - © JOHN NEEL AND ARE NOT TO BE USED FOR ANY PUPOSE WITHOUT WRITTEN CONSENT FROM THE WRITER, THE PHOTOGRAPHER AND/OR PIXIQ.