W.w.a.d.?

[Chilidog]

What Would Ansel Do?

Although he remained a traditionalist in his artistic vision, Ansel Adams was never one to eschew developing technology.

How then, I wonder, would he utilize today’s modern digital technologies?

Would he dump the zone system, with it’s tedious dodging and burning, for the high dynamic range techniques in photoshop?

Would he sell the enlarger on e-b@y for a high end printer?

What do you think?

[BarryS]

I think he'd be hang gliding, far above your house--not wearing any pants.

[BrianShaw]

I don't know if he would have dumped Zone system or not, but he probably would certainly have branched out into digital technologies, etc. Maybe he would have figured out how to adapt Zone system to digital image making and written a new volume to his book series.

The man appears to have been an image-maker not a film photographer, although that's what he had to work with so that's what he worked with.

Why don't you ask him... I'll loan you my Ouiji board.

[Vaughn]

I feel that AA was equally a image maker and a print maker. What in the heck is a film photographer? Someone who photographs film? ;)

Burning and dodging have zero to do with the Zone System. B & D happens after one exposes and develops (using or not using the ZS) the film. And B & D is not "tedious" to most folks (well, not to me, anyway). To me that is like saying putting paint on a canvas is tedious, or that having to blow into a clarinet is tedious. But to each their own!

As an image and print maker, I think AA would have embraced digital capture and printing, once the hardware and software met his artistic standards.

He may have had to revise one of his quotes -- "There is nothing worse than a over-sharpened image of a fuzzy concept."

[BrianShaw]

Didn't Adams, in his will/bequest, encourage the Creative Center for Photography to manipulate his negs using "modern" technology... or did I make that up?

[Vlad Soare]

I think he was actually looking forward to the development of digital photography. In one of his books he wrote something like "I believe the future belongs to electronic imaging, and I really hope I shall live to see it". It's not an exact quote, as I'm quoting from memory, but that was the idea.

[D. Bryant]

I think he was actually looking forward to the development of digital photography. In one of his books he wrote something like "I believe the future belongs to electronic imaging, and I really hope I shall live to see it". It's not an exact quote, as I'm quoting from memory, but that was the idea.

What Vlad wrote. This topic has been discussed ad nauseum over the years. Google your question and you will find the discussions.

[rdenney]

I think he was actually looking forward to the development of digital photography. In one of his books he wrote something like "I believe the future belongs to electronic imaging, and I really hope I shall live to see it". It's not an exact quote, as I'm quoting from memory, but that was the idea.

I think he said that verbally in his 1980 FilmAmerica biopic. He also mentioned that he hoped students at the Center for Creative Photography would be allowed to interpret his negatives (under proper supervision).

Rick "from his own lips" Denney

[William McEwen]

Iin the 1983 Playboy interview, AA talks about the future of photography.

Electronic photography, he called it. He said it will initially be useful in printmaking, then it will reach the point where photographs can be made electronically, and not on film.

Yes, this was discussed on an earlier thread, last year, I believe...

[Jim Galli]

I think he'd have enough sense to turn the wooden cameras into btu's on a chilly evening, return to his piano, and never look back.

[Steve M Hostetter]

Nothing wrong with a look at fresh answers from new members and old alike from repeated questions

[Mark MacKenzie]

He would have wondered what Weston would do.

[John Kasaian]

He would wonder why you would wonder what he would do.

[John Kasaian]

He would have wondered what Weston would do.

Weston would have wondered how to get Giselle Bundchen to pose for him on a sand dune.

[Vaughn]

AA (and Weston) perhaps would have remembered something Herman Hesse wrote..."Deeds are never done by ones who first ask, "What should I do?""

[Drew Wiley]

If AA had grown up in today's computer culture he wouldn't have taken any pictures at
all. He would have been so tubby and out of shape that more than a 50 yard walk in
Yosemite would have left him gasping for breath. Besides, it's hard to find a KFC or
McDonalds there. His eyesight would have been ruined by the age of twelve. Plus all
the kids he would be texting with his cell phone would have lured him into joining a gang, and he would be found gunned down in his baggy pants on some SF back street.

[paulr]

Yeah, but he'd have a cool blog.

[Vaughn]

IDK, Drew, he might have played keyboard for a grunge band...and been he one keeping the band's facebook page (and blog) current...

[Drew Wiley]

No ... I think he would have been too up to date for grunge. I think John Muir would
have been more the purist and been into grunge. AA would have gravitated into gangsta rap more likely. Sorta a bearded M&M, with Uncle Earl behind him scrtiching
the phono disc backwards.

[Vaughn]

:d :d :d

[rdenney]

Weston would have wondered how to get Giselle Bundchen to pose for him on a sand dune.

AA would have wanted that, too.

Rick "ahem!" Denney

[Brian C. Miller]

You're all wrong. AA would have been more like Mannheim Steamroller and Isao Tomita. He might have been doing binaural recording (http://www.neumann.com/?lang=en&id=current_microphones&cid=ku100_description), and experimental music.

Or he could have wound up like Syd Barrett.

[Drew Wiley]

I guess it would depend if AA was still under the influence of his old pal Cedric Wright,
who would be more into the "oldies" and probably be touring with Iron Butterfly.

[Jim Galli]

W.w.a.drive? I'm thinking Honda Element. Hybrid.

[falth j]

Clearly,

he would have ditched that stationwagon for a stepvan with a generator and processed the results in photoshop, and displayed the results of his efforts on a plasma TV so customers could choose their preferences on the spot, printed his pictures on a modern 12 ink printer, sold the results on the spot, taking credit cards linked to a telephone transfer system, and then spent the money on a nice meal paid for with a credit transaction.

[rdenney]

W.w.a.drive? I'm thinking Honda Element. Hybrid.

Hmmm. I'm thinking a Cadillac Escalade, with a platform on top. That's the nearest thing to what he actually did drive.

Rick "thinking AA was no sybarite" Denney

[Vick Vickery]

I have no doubt that AA would have embraced digital photography just as he embraced Polaroid. As he did with Polaroid, he would have continued to use LF, MF, and Polaroid (Fuji), along with digital. He didn't limit himself to one medium.

[Eric Rose]

He would call up EW and between the two of them they would drink some scotch, ok a lot of scotch, play the piano, and then laugh like hell at all the punters wondering what they were thinking.

[William McEwen]

Clearly,

he would have ditched that station wagon for a stepvan with a generator and processed the results in photoshop, and displayed the results of his efforts on a plasma TV so customers could choose their preferences on the spot, printed his pictures on a modern 12 ink printer, sold the results on the spot, taking credit cards linked to a telephone transfer system, and then spent the money on a nice meal paid for with a credit transaction.

You're definitely onto something. I might change it a bit -- AA would be behind a fence, chained to his camera, and Bill Turnage would be doing the selling...

[Drew Wiley]

Hmmm .... would he still be having steak and eggs for breakfast and flirting with the
waitress, or would he be hanging around Starbucks?