Ansel Adams was born in San Francisco and learned to appreciate nature while playing in the sand dunes of the Golden Gate. His black and white photographs demonstrate a strong understanding of artistic elements like shape, line, texture, value, form, and space and how they relate to one another. The assignment challenges students to focus on one element, take at least 14 photos demonstrating that element, then print and arrange 6-8 photos in an interesting composition.

1. Ansel Adams 1902-1984 Working with Nature In Black and White

2. Adams was born in San Francisco. Through playing in the sand dunes of the Golden Gate, he learned of his appreciation for nature. In addition to the preservation of nature, his photos demonstrate a strong understanding of the art elements and how they relate to one another.

3. Shape….

4. These sand dunes are so simplified into basic shapes, it seems that this isn’t a photograph at all, but rather an abstracted painting.

6. Line….

7. What other elements beyond line are demonstrated in this photograph?

8. Does this photo follow the composition rules?

9. Texture… This photograph is a good example of “filling the frame”

12. Value and Form…As a general rule, you can’t have form without value. What other elements are in this photo?

13. The value contrast makes this photo interesting. What else strikes your eye?

15. Space

16. Remember, space is not openness…Space is depth; foreground, middle ground, and background.