Contact

info@photographywest.com

Ansel Adams

Ansel Adams

1902 - 1984

With more than half a century of camera work behind him, Ansel Adams stands as one of America’s greatest landscape photographers. His career is punctuated with countless elegant...

Ansel Adams

Biography

No contemporary photographer equaled the lifetime contributions of Ansel Adams in bringing public recognition of the art of photography, or taught so widely the techniques of black and white photography. His strength as an artist is largely attributed to his tireless investigation of the methods of photography, developing a careful darkroom technique of exposure and development which he called the Zone System.

Striking photographs of Yosemite and the surrounding Sierra Nevada capturing the elusive visual myth and mood of these wild places became the wellspring of Ansel Adam’s consciousness, and brought him widespread popular acclaim. His intimate understanding as well as passion for conservation of this pristine wilderness gave Ansel Adams the energy and tenacity needed to bring subjects to life for a wider public.

His reputation has been firmly established by exhibitions in virtually every major American art museum, three Guggenheim Fellowships and a score of publications. Photography West Gallery features The Ansel Adams Room with a permanent rotating exhibition of ever-changing images by this legendary master.

The Donohue Collection

1968

Brett Weston hires Phyllis Donohue for one week as a “spotter,” also known as photo-finisher or retoucher. When Weston’s project was complete, he was so impressed with her skills and attention to detail that he recommended Phyllis to Ansel Adams, who was also looking for a spotter. Portrait of Phyllis Donohue spotting a 16×20 Tetons by Ansel Adams.

Phyllis Donohue spotting an Ansel Adams Tetons

1968 – 1984

Phyllis would spend almost 20 years as Adams’ master retoucher and production assistant. In addition to retouching, Phyllis also helped Ansel Adams catalog all of his negatives. She was his longest-term employee and to express his gratitude, he gifted her a photograph or two each year. Portrait of Ansel Adams Signing Museum Set with Phyllis Donohue, c. 1981 by Jim McHugh.

Portrait of Ansel Adams and Phyllis Donohue

2018

After Phyllis Donohue’s passing, her family entrusted her entire collection of 22 original Ansel Adams to our gallery director, Julia Christopher, who held an exhibition in her honor at Photography West, November – December of 2018. All the photographs were sold with the exception of the two the family decided to keep. To date, it is still the most complete, pristine and truly stunning collection of Ansel’s original masterworks we’ve ever seen for sale.

Inscription from Ansel Adams to Phyllis Donohue

Clearing Winter Storm

Yosemite National Park, California, 1944

16×20″ Gelatin Silver made by Ansel Adans in 1979

Image © The Ansel Adams Publishing Rights Trust

Ansel Adams Clearing Winter Storm

Monolith, the Face of Half Dome

Yosemite National Park, California, 1927

16×20″ Gelatin Silver made by Ansel Adams in the 1970’s

Image © The Ansel Adams Publishing Rights Trust

Ansel Adams monolith the face of half dome 1927

Golden Gate Before The Bridge

San Francisco, California, 1932

16×20″ Gelatin Silver made by Ansel Adams in the late 1970’s

Image © The Ansel Adams Publishing Rights Trust

Ansel Adams golden gate before the bridge 1932

Moonrise

Hernandez, New Mexico, 1941

16×20″ Gelatin Silver made by Ansel Adams in the late 1970’s

Image © The Ansel Adams Publishing Rights Trust

Ansel Adams Moonrise Over Hernandez

Ferns

Mt. Ranier National Park, Washington, 1942

16×20″ Original Gelatin Silver made by Ansel in the 1970’s

Image © The Ansel Adams Publishing Rights Trust

Ansel Adams Ferns, Mount Rainier National Park, 1942

White House Ruin

Canyon de Chelly National Monument, Arizona, 1942

Rare 16×20″ Gelatin Silver made by Ansel Adams in the 1970’s

Image © The Ansel Adams Publishing Rights Trust

Ansel Adams White House Ruin

The Tetons & The Snake River

Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, 1942

16×20″ Gelatin Silver made by Ansel Adams in the 1970’s

Image © The Ansel Adams Publishing Rights Trust

Ansel Adams Tetons and the Snake River Grand Teton National Park Wyoming

Winter Sunrise

The Sierra Nevada, from Lone Pine, California, 1944

16×20″ Gelatin Silver made by Ansel Adams in the 1970’s

Image © The Ansel Adams Publishing Rights Trust

Ansel Adams winter sunrise from lone pine 1944

Mt. Williamson

Sierra Nevada, Near Manzanar, California, 1944

16×20″ Gelatin Silver made by Ansel Adams after 1972

Image © The Ansel Adams Publishing Rights Trust

Ansel Adams Mt. Williamson 1944

Mt. McKinley at Wonder Lake

Denali National Park, Alaska, 1947

16×20″ Original Gelatin Silver made by Ansel Adams in the 1970’s

Image © The Ansel Adams Publishing Rights Trust

Ansel Adams mt mckinley alaska 1948

Tenaya Creek, Dogwood, Rain

Yosemite National Park, California, 1948

Rare 16×20″ Gelatin Silver made by Ansel Adams in the 1970’s

Image © The Ansel Adams Publishing Rights Trust

Ansel Adams Tenaya Creek Spring Rain Yosemite 1948

Oak Tree, Snowstorm

Yosemite National Park, California, 1948

Rare 16×20″ Gelatin Silver made by Ansel Adams in the 1970’s

Image © The Ansel Adams Publishing Rights Trust

Ansel Adams oak tree snowstorm yosemite 1948

Sand Dunes, Sunrise

Death Valley National Monument, California, 1948

16×20″ Original Gelatin Silver made by Ansel Adams in the 1970’s

Image © The Ansel Adams Publishing Rights Trust

Ansel Adams sunrise and dune death valley 1948

White Branches

Mono Lake, California, 1950

16×20″ Original Gelatin Silver made by Ansel Adams in the 1970’s

Image © The Ansel Adams Publishing Rights Trust

Ansel Adams white branches mono lake 1947

Maroon Bells

Near Aspen, Colorado, 1951

16×20″ Original Gelatin Silver made by Ansel Adams in the 1970’s

Image © The Ansel Adams Publishing Rights Trust

Ansel Adams Maroon Bells near aspen 1951

Aspens

Northern New Mexico, 1958

18×22″ Original Gelatin Silver made by Ansel Adams in 1976

Image © The Ansel Adams Publishing Rights Trust

Ansel Adams aspens new mexico 1958

Trees, Meadow, Snow

Yosemite National Park, California, 1960

16×20″ Original Gelatin Silver made by Ansel Adams in the 1960’s

Image © The Ansel Adams Publishing Rights Trust

ansel adams trees meadow snow yosemite 1960

Evening Clouds and Pool

East Side of the Sierra from the Owens Valley, California, 1962

16×20″ Original Gelatin Silver made by Ansel Adams in the 1970’s

Image © The Ansel Adams Publishing Rights Trust

Ansel Adams Evening Clouds and Pool, East Side of the Sierra from the Owens Valley, California, 1962

Original Photographs

Your Collection

Wall is empty.