Redwoods, Bull Creek Flat by Ansel Adams - technical data

**chassis** · 23-Nov-2011, 21:32

I'm looking for technical data on this image, and haven't found it. Does anyone know, or can you estimate from your knowledge of the site:

Camera and film format: (view camera or Hasselblad?)
Lens:
Subject to lens distance:

Thanks.

**Merg Ross** · 23-Nov-2011, 22:06

Originally Posted by chassis

I'm looking for technical data on this image, and haven't found it. Does anyone know, or can you estimate from your knowledge of the site:

Camera and film format: (view camera or Hasselblad?)
Lens:
Subject to lens distance:

Thanks.

I don't know. You will probably get the correct answer from some of the Ansel specialists that frequent this forum. I believe this was taken about 1960, around the time that Ansel was using the 8x10 less, and during the period that he was working with Polaroid materials. Here is my long shot guess: taken with a 4x5 camera on Polaroid material.

**Joel Truckenbrod** · 23-Nov-2011, 22:13

I'm far from an expert, but he discusses it in The Print (p. 96 of the 2003 10th edition printing):

"This is an 8x10 Isopan negative exposed with the 19-inch component of a Cooke Series XV lens; it recieved Normal-minus development in Kodak D-23"

**Merg Ross** · 23-Nov-2011, 22:23

Originally Posted by Joel Truckenbrod

I'm far from an expert, but he discusses it in The Print (p. 96 of the 2003 10th edition printing):

"This is an 8x10 Isopan negative exposed with the 19-inch component of a Cooke Series XV lens; it recieved Normal-minus development in Kodak D-23"

My gut told me 8x10, should have stuck with it! He was on a paid assignment, for which the 8x10 makes more sense.

Thanks, Joel.

**Jim Fitzgerald** · 23-Nov-2011, 22:37

One of my favorite places to shoot! Especially with the 8x20!

**chassis** · 24-Nov-2011, 07:28

Thanks Joel.

**Jim Shanesy** · 24-Nov-2011, 22:50

I'm no big fan of Ansel Adams, but I have to say that Bull Creek Flat is one of the most beautiful photographs ever made. The printing of it is unparelleled. Not even Weston ever produced a more perfectly nuanced print.

About 20 years ago I used to work across the street from the Nature Conservancy national headquarters in Washington, DC. They had a permanent exhibition in the lobby of 50 prints that Adams had made for Bill Turnage. Bull Creek Flat was the pick of the litter. I often used to go over there during lunch and marvel at it. Moonrise? Clearing Winter Storm? Yuck. But I would dearly love to own a Bull Creek Flat print.