Ansel Adams
"I Got A Letter From THE Ansel Adams!
Ansel Adams? If you don't know the name, he is one of the best-known photographers since photography was invented. Well...I was taking a photography course at SCSC, on my way to
my Master's degree. My professor, Dr. Cyr, Cheshire resident at the time, assigned our class to visit
New Haven's Peabody Museum and write a review of an exhibit of Ansel Adams' black and
white photography. (I don't even know if he ever exhibited color photos.)
I considered myself an aspiring poet at the time and decided to compose a short verse about
each image. Upon further thought, I decided it would be a shame to just "waste" my efforts in
a class at SCSC, now SCSU. So, I decided to go right to the ultimate judge of poems about
his photography, Ansel Adams the man.
Somehow, I found his address and sent him a copy of my efforts, not really expecting to
receive any kind of response from the Master.
Then, one day, several weeks letter, I was "shocked and amazed" to find the envelope you
see here, in our mailbox. I carefully opened it, knowing that I would undoubtedly want to
preserve his special envelope and was treated to his missive that you are about to peruse.
You can probably see that Ansel himself had typed the letter. Who knows, he may very well
not have had a secretary. I have kept the letter and its envelope in a drawer for decades, only
displaying a photocopy at local gallery, the now defunct SAGE MMM. Maybe I should put it
in a frame and display it, definitely on a wall that would not be exposed to the tool of
photography,..light.
Ron Gagliardi
This is one of the group of poems Ron Gagliardi sent to Ansel Adams
Drape-like rocks like monks in robes
paraded on rippled snow.
​I doubted if they saw themselves
in the still reflection down below.
The phrase "Shocked and amazed" is a is a favorite expression of Cheshire's Mayor, Peter Talbot
Ansel Adams (February 20, 1902–April 22, 1984) was an American photographer celebrated for his dramatic black‑and‑white images of the American West and for his influential role in the conservation movement. Born in San Francisco, Adams discovered photography at age 14 during his first trip to Yosemite, where he received his first camera. This early experience shaped his lifelong artistic direction, leading him to develop a deep attachment to the Sierra Nevada and other western landscapes. [britannica.com]
Over the decades, Adams became one of the defining figures in landscape photography. He co‑founded Group f/64, which promoted sharp-focus, “straight” photography, and he developed the Zone System, an innovative method for achieving precise control of tonal range in photographs. His work not only influenced modern photography as fine art but was also instrumental in the environmental movement, using powerful imagery to advocate for the protection of America’s wilderness. [theartstory.org]
Work in Grand Teton National Park
Among Adams’s most iconic landscapes are those created in Grand Teton National Park. His renowned 1942 photograph “The Tetons and the Snake River”—shot from what is now known as Snake River Overlook—captures the sweeping arc of the river beneath the dramatic, snow‑capped Teton Range. Created as part of a U.S. Department of the Interior mural project, the photograph is widely regarded as one of his most acclaimed works. [en.wikipedia.org]
The vantage point Adams chose has since become a destination for photographers and visitors inspired by his work, although vegetation has grown over the decades, obscuring the exact composition he achieved. His Tetons images contributed significantly to the visual identity of the national park and helped elevate the region’s status as an emblem of American wilderness. [articles.a...ladams.com]
Drape-like rocks like monks in robes
paraded on rippled snow.
​I doubted if they saw themselves
in the still reflection down below.
by:Ron Gagliardi