Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 24

Thread: A tour of Ansel Adam's darkroom

  1. #1

    A tour of Ansel Adam's darkroom

    Feast your eyes and maybe get some inspiration for your own darkroom enhancements

    http://www.petapixel.com/2011/04/05/...adams-darkroom

    Cheers!

  2. #2

    Re: A tour of Ansel Adam's darkroom

    BTW, meant to say Ansel Adams' darkroom

  3. #3
    Vaughn's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    Humboldt County, CA
    Posts
    9,211

    Re: A tour of Ansel Adam's darkroom

    I was there in February, visiting with a friend. Michael and I visited while my friend met with Michael's wife. Very nice folks and of course a beautiful home. A recently added deck overlooking the ocean would be a pleasure to kick back on with a nice scotch after a session in the darkroom. I think I could stand living there.

    I had been to AA's darkroom a couple times before as an assistant for the Friends of the Photography not too long after Ansel's death. Virginia was still alive and was a wonderful person. Nothing terribly fancy or modern about the darkroom -- just well organized and good solid equipment.

    Vaughn

  4. #4
    Format Omnivore Brian C. Miller's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 1999
    Location
    Everett, WA
    Posts
    2,997

    Re: A tour of Ansel Adam's darkroom

    I knew that Adams' 8x10 enlarger was made from an old camera, but I never knew it was that fugly! Beautiful != effective! Interesting to see the little rail tracks.

  5. #5
    Kevin Kolosky
    Join Date
    Jun 1999
    Posts
    791

    Re: A tour of Ansel Adam's darkroom

    What is the situation there? Is it open to the public as sort of a museum. Is Michael living there?

  6. #6

    Join Date
    May 2004
    Location
    Montara, California
    Posts
    1,827

    Re: A tour of Ansel Adam's darkroom

    The video is a sort of wasted opportunity, I'm afraid, on the part of the interviewer.

    The stories about Moonrise and Monolith are easily the best known stories about Ansel's images and Ansel had related them several times himself in other films not to mention his books. Nothing new at all there. The entire darkroom segment has been done before in well-known films--with the video camera in the same position! In fact, one of those films is intercut into this video, showing Ansel at work in the darkroom.

    But I did note a few things of interest. The gallery room next to the living area is lovely. The photos above, library below, with a large viewing/work table off center in the room. I want one!

    Michael Adams has been busy digitizing stuff. Would love to see more. He had straight vs. late printing scans of Moonrise to show comparisons, on his Mac. He had a Monolith with yellow filter vs red filter, too. Not new stuff but a very nice way to demonstrate the issues. He also had the dodging and burning instructions for Moonrise--he said he couldn't read the instructions although they seemed clear enough with the brief glance I had of them. I'd love to see more along these lines.

    --Darin

  7. #7
    Vaughn's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    Humboldt County, CA
    Posts
    9,211

    Re: A tour of Ansel Adam's darkroom

    Quote Originally Posted by Kevin J. Kolosky View Post
    What is the situation there? Is it open to the public as sort of a museum. Is Michael living there?
    Michael and his wife bought the house and are living there. I would call the darkroom itself a privately kept "museum". By no means "public".

    And yes -- great photos on the walls!

  8. #8
    Drew Wiley
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    SF Bay area, CA
    Posts
    18,337

    Re: A tour of Ansel Adam's darkroom

    It's sure nice that they kept the dkrm digs intact, but it always amazes me how primitive AA's tool kit was, not only in terms of physical gear, but with respect to his
    technical options. Seems like he spent a lot of time going through dodging/burning hell.
    We've got a lot more tricks these days, with better film, dev, and papers to make things so much easier.

  9. #9
    Hack Pawlowski6132's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    Detroit - Come Visit
    Posts
    923
    Drew, do you really think we're much further ahead technologically? I don't feel I am personally in my contact printing at all.

  10. #10
    Vaughn's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    Humboldt County, CA
    Posts
    9,211

    Re: A tour of Ansel Adam's darkroom

    As the old saying goes:

    Isn't it amazing how photography has advanced without improving? - Charles Sheeler

Similar Threads

  1. Ansel Adams Print Exhibition - Gilcrease Museum, Tulsa, Aug-Jan
    By nelsonfotodotcom in forum Announcements
    Replies: 12
    Last Post: 13-Apr-2011, 11:05
  2. The Ansel Adams Gallery Workshops in Yosemite and Mono Lake
    By Carlos R Herrera in forum Announcements
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 11-Feb-2008, 12:29
  3. Ansel Adams Exhibit in Northampton, MA
    By Sylvester Graham in forum Announcements
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 5-Jul-2007, 12:59

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •