Quick. Name a famous photographer other than Ansel Adams.
That’d be a tall order for a lot of folks. Ansel Adams may be the most well-known photographer in the nation. Nearly everyone is familiar with his work, especially the photo, “Moon and Half Dome,” which Adams shot in 1960 at Yosemite National Park.
Anyone with an interest in nature or photography would enjoy visiting Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville to tour the exhibit, “Ansel Adams In Our Time.” But time’s ‘a wasting. The last day for the exhibit is Jan. 3.
Cost to see the exhibit is $12, though it’s free to veterans, youths age 18 and under and museum members. Reservations are required and are easily made at crystalbridges.org. They’re necessary to observe social distance guidelines.
Visitors can get a close look at the detail in the great landscape photos Adams took of the wild American West. Plaques beside many of his pictures reveal the techniques Adams used to get the shot. “Moon and Half Dome” is one of those photographs.
It looks like Adams took the photo at night because the sky is black. That’s because he used a red filter on the camera lens, which creates the dark sky effect. Museum visitors learn Adams used green or yellow filters on other photos.
In his own words, Adams, who was born in 1907 and died in 1984, says a lot of it is just being in the right place at the right time. That could mean scaling mountains carrying heavy camera gear and a wooden tripod.
Museum visitors can watch a video of Adams climbing with all that gear. His wife, Virginia, was often with him to help shoulder the load.
The exhibit includes a large-format camera and tripod similar to what Adams used.
Most people know Adams for his stunning black and white landscape pictures taken at Yosemite and other western landmarks. Adams also shot photos of common items like statues and buildings. He documented the Great Depression with his photos and took pictures of poverty and environmental harm.
After touring the exhibit, visitors may come away with a new favorite Ansel Adams photo. My new favorite isn’t of nature at all, but an aerial shot Adams took of a freeway interchange in L.A., and we’re not talking Lowell, Arkansas. The bizarre network of entwined entrance ramps, exits and overpasses in Los Angeles looks like a pile of ribbon someone dropped on the city.
The variety among the 100 photos on display, taken by Adams and other photographers, is amazing.
He got his start like many young photographers. His dad gave him a camera as a gift when Adams was a boy. At age 17 he joined the Sierra Club and took pictures on club trips. Pretty soon he was selling his photos to club members. That helped convince Adams he could make a living with his photography.
There’s a great way to visit Crystal Bridges and take a nice hike as well. Park in downtown Bentonville and walk the paved trail that leads downhill to the south entrance of Crystal Bridges.
The trail starts at the Compton Gardens parking area two blocks north of the Bentonville square. From there it’s a little over one-half mile to the museum’s south entrance.
Flip Putthoff can be reached at fputthoff@nwadg.com