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Ansel Adams Abstract Photography

American, 1902-1984

The San Francisco–born photographer Ansel Adams is celebrated for his majestic black-and-white photography that brought the deserts, mountains and forests of the American West to the public. His images, beloved for their raw beauty and the magic of their subjects, are known around the world and widely reproduced as calendars and posters.

A sickly child with little attraction to sports or games, Adams early on developed an avid interest in the natural surroundings of his San Francisco home, on the heights facing Golden Gate Park. This passion found a productive outlet in photography, which he discovered at 14, when his father gave him his first camera during a family trip to Yosemite National Park. He spent much of the ensuing decades capturing Yosemite’s vast and varied wonders.

Adams’s photographs were first published in 1921. Even these early efforts demonstrate his eye for composition and his sensitivity to tonal balance and textural contrast. In the mid-1920s, he began to play with soft focus, as in the dreamy 1927 Lyell Fork Meadows, which appears bathed in a hazy, nostalgic light. The 1948 Sunrise over Sand Dunes in Death Valley exemplifies Adams’s later experiments with stark contrasts in light and geometric framing, which transform the landscape into a near abstraction.

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Artist: Ansel Adams
White Stumps, Sierra Nevada, CA
By Ansel Adams
Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
Signed by the artist mount recto and with artist's stamp mount verso.
Category

20th Century Ansel Adams Abstract Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

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Ansel Adams abstract photography for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Ansel Adams abstract photography available for sale on 1stDibs. You can also browse by medium to find art by Ansel Adams in silver gelatin print and more. Not every interior allows for large Ansel Adams abstract photography, so small editions measuring 10 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Brett Weston, Edward Weston, and Ida Lansky. Ansel Adams abstract photography prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $10,000 and tops out at $10,000, while the average work can sell for $10,000.
Questions About Ansel Adams Abstract Photography
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Photographer Ansel Adams spoke of the ‘Art of Visualization’ around his photography methods. This concept revolves around the photographer imagining where the audience’s eye will move across a scene before taking the shot. Visualization helps the photographer frame a scene in a way that aligns with their intent. Shop a collection of Ansel Adams photography from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertNovember 4, 2024
    To identify Ansel Adams prints, look on the back for a stamp that says "Photograph by Ansel Adams." This marking appears on nearly all Adams prints, and many also display the photographer's signature. If you'd like to learn more about the name and history of the image shown on your print, there are many online catalogues that you can refer to. A certified appraiser or knowledgeable art dealer can also be of assistance. On 1stDibs, shop an assortment of Ansel Adams photography.
  • 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 1, 2024
    Ansel Adams' most famous photo is open for debate. One of his first photographs to draw attention from the public was 1927's Monolith, the Face of Half Dome, an image of the Half Dome in Yosemite National Park. Other notable photos by Adams include Moonrise, Hernandez, New Mexico; Half Dome, Merced River, Winter, Yosemite National Park, California; San Francisco From Twin Peaks and Sand Dunes, Sunrise, Death Valley National Monument, California. On 1stDibs, explore a wide variety of Ansel Adams art.
  • 1stDibs ExpertOctober 7, 2024
    To know if your Ansel Adams print is real, first check online and print catalogues to see if the photograph is a known work of Ansel Adams. Snapping a photo of your print and then performing a reverse image search can jumpstart this process. If you don't find the photograph attributed to Adams, your piece is unlikely to be real. Should your search prove successful, next look for any signatures and markings on the front and back of the print. Reproductions produced after Adams's work will usually say "Photography by Ansel Adams," while originals may be signed by the photographer or have an Adams stamp or label on the back. If you still need assistance with the evaluation process, a certified appraiser or knowledgeable art dealer can be of assistance. On 1stDibs, find a collection of Ansel Adams prints.

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