Ansel Adams was and is a famous photographer who was born in 1902 into conservative San Francisco. He was a photographer for over 30 years, and he also experimented in pianism and writing. His spectacular black and white photos of American Western landscape, however, are what people remember him for today. Some people may say one of the best photographers to grace the 20th century, Ansel was born an only child to wealthy parents Charles and Olive Adams.

While attending a private boarding school for boys, Ansel found that he could not stand the regimented education system and so he decided to educate himself. During his first year of withdrawing from school, his father gave him an annual pass to the Panama-Pacific Exposition of photographs which he visited nearly everyday. He was also taught by private tutors, but continued to instruct himself in the arts of pianism and the written word.

During the year of 1927, Ansel took his first photograph and had a portfolio published that same year. That was his first recognition of being a professional photographer, but he later co-founded several photography groups and opened his own gallery in San Francisco. He also published many books, including ones of his own work and guides or lessons on how to approach photography. He was awarded the presidential medal of freedom from president Carter in 1980, which is the nations highest civilian award and recognizes exceptional meritorious service.

He married in 1928 to Virginia Best, but they parented no children together. Virginia was also known to be very camera shy so there are very few known photographs of her. Ansel died in 1984 from heart failure due to complications regarding cancer.

His work is still highly acclaimed to this day for its beauty and deeply inspiring effects. Below is a photograph taken by Ansel Adams in 1942. For more pictures by Ansel, please visit www.anseladams.com