The Evolution of Landscape Photography from the Model Presented by Ansel Adams - Essay Example

Task The evolution of landscape photography from the model presented by Ansel Adams Landscape photography, describes a concept developed and evolved over a long period of time. The concept involves the photographer being capable of emotionally connecting to the immediate environment in seeking to communicate something personal to the audience through the photo. The concept has evolved over time with improvements in the quality feature being characteristic of this evolution. Though landscape photography existed almost half a century before Ansel Adams, he remains one of the most recognisable figures of all photography and has been named the spiritual father of American landscape photography. The concept utilised the principles utilised in modern paintings to create pieces of art. Landscape photography gained popularity when artists began using the environment as a principle subject of their work. Since the model of landscape photography presented by Ansel was introduced, the concept has undergone tremendous changes in seeking to improve the appearance of the artworks. The aim of landscape photography is the expression of emotions or moods within a landscape at a particular point in time. The utilisation of different hues of nature and landscape images enables the concept to be perceived as able to record the elements of the landscape at different points in time. Through the hues and images, the photographers’ emotions can be represented together with the concept and the ideas behind the photograph. The concept normally utilises light symbolic reference and design to communicate the emotion and mood intended by the photographer. These elements have improved the capacity of modern photography to convey emotions and self-expression. The evolution of landscape photography has changed the role of the camera form that of recording landscapes to being a photographer’s tool for presenting their personal vision. Through this transformation, the camera is perceived as capable of transforming real images to surreal images. The need for personal expression of the photographer is one of the fundamental elements that have resulted in the transformation of landscape photography. The concept has been viewed as presenting the beauty of nature, but the transformation has brought the depiction of natural landscape from city dwellers perception as part of the significance of landscape photography. The images can be utilized in indicating different values of the society including political elements. While traditional landscape photography was presented in a unified and harmonious manner, the change in the development of the concept has resulted in the modern photography becoming portrayed as cluttered and confused. Another critical element of the landscape photography is the need to make certain expressions by the photographer. The utilisation of standard lens makes panoramic pictures difficult to take. The lens utilised have been changed in seeking to widen the angle of coverage and provide increased details in the photograph. These details must, however, be focused on the specific elements which the photographer needs to display. This avoids providing an empty sky and a foreground that does not support the composition of the picture. Evolution of landscape photography has brought about the need to eliminate excessive details in picture taken using wider lens, while ensuring that the message and emotion being conveyed does not get distorted. Modern photography achieves this through findings a vantage point form which the desired details are captured, and ensuring the message is completed. Traditionally this was achieved through photographers moving closer to reduce the details contained within the frame of the picture. Figure 1sample of urban land scape photography Lighting is critical to any form of photography as it enables the clear presentation of natural colours available within a landscape. Landscapes are generally taken in low light situations. Ansel presented a perfect landscape picture in the photograph known as Moonrise. Under the situations of low light, the various colours in the sky can be clearly utilised to depict the particular mood which one desires to express. During this low light, changes in contrast of the natural environment changes, presenting the photographer with an array of options which can be utilised to improve the appearance of the photograph. Extreme brightness when taking landscape photos might overexpose the details of the sky while underexposing the land. This creates an element of imbalance within the photography, consequently failing to communicate the desired message of the picture. Adam’s photography has maintained a direct connection with the early pioneers of the concept through maintaining simplicity in the appearance. Technological changes and advancements since the development of the model by Adams have surpassed the modern day printing. This has made some of the works presented by Adams to be perceived as having a timeless element in quality. The transformation of the photography through the utilisation of landscape resulted in the evolvement of the profession in its entirety. Many of the pictures which were taken during this time have become relics which are admired in the modern society. The conservationist thread which was developed through the photography continues to run through the concept even in modern times. The element of environmental conservation has been presented through the depiction of nature through the landscape photos. Various aspects of the natural environment have not become fundamental features of the landscape photography as the concept continues to be revolutionised by technological changes. Despite these changes, which have occurred and revolutionised the landscape photography, the results and desired outcomes of the images created has remained the same. The significance of the images has been the representation of a natural environment which conveys critical message to the audience about the emotions and perceptions of the photographer. Adams concept of landscape photography was based on his passion for beauty and preservation of the natural environment. His prints were made possible through his innovation of the zone system. This systems enabled the control of the tone in the images in seeking to expose the most essential elements of the picture. The photos seek to present to the public glimpse of the natural beauty of the wildest places in seeking to enhance the protection of the natural resources. This has created a consistent vision of photography in an ever changing world and landscape (Wells, 57). The photos have been utilised in informing the public about the significance preserving the environment and protecting it from being assaulted by various stakeholders. The importance of landscape photography has been maintained throughout the ages since it was perfected by the model of Adams. Assessment of the career of Adams depicts a potential photography success that can serve to remind the modern photographers of the old elements that have been maintained even in modern times. The conservationist’s approaches adopted by Adams have been essential in the development of the principle of conservation in photography. The themes of conservation which was created by the model presented by Adams has continuously been the defining element of landscape photography. Because of the presentation of the natural elements which depict beauty, the images themselves have been preserved and they have resulted in the preservation of the environment as well. The fundamental focus of the landscape remains the presentation of a natural setting which communicate very important message to the general public. Modern landscape photography has undergone through many milestones which have enhanced the development of the concepts which have been adopted. The occurrence of industrial revolution changed various elements of rural life which presented some of the best landscapes. As the people sought to develop different methods of preserving these landscapes photography became popular as an art which could be utilised in preserving the natural environment (Nimarkoh et al. 85). Painters began to embrace landscape and so photography as an art has also been part of the various forms of art which have adopted and embraced landscape as a philosophy. As the concept continued to gain popularity, artists have been utilising the medium in seeking to create interpretations of the land. This is achieved through enhancing pictorialist effects in the photos. Since the introduction of the model by Adams, the concept has not changed much but the technology and the approach for presentation have undergone a tremendous revolution. Formal compositions of cropped and closed up views of landscapes have become relatively popular in the modern times. Landscape has not been very popular in the 21st century but the concept has been increasingly utilised in photography in adding beauty to artistic works presented by modern photographers. The increased application of landscape photography is popularised by the capacity for the images to present breath-taking views of natural places, which people cannot visit. While photography as a form of art enable the preservation of memories, landscapes preserve both eh memories and the beauty of the particular place. Although the genre of landscape has not been very popular in the 20th century, its importance was brought by the response of artists to the fear of industrialisation which was changing the landscapes completely. There were various concepts of the landscape photography that have developed since the model of Adam which was developed in the 20th century. The landscape concepts developed as a result of the evolution include urban landscape, industrial landscape, cultural landscape and landscape architecture (Stillman, 12). All these forms of landscapes have resulted in the evolution of landscape photography and raised the popularity of the concept. Many of the modern photographers have utilised the concepts which have evolved to raise environmental conservation concerns. In the modern times the landscape has become an important subject which is considered by many artists. Works cited Nimarkoh, Virginia et al. Edge of a Dream: Utopia, Landscape and Contemporary Photography. London: Affram Books, 2011. Print. Stillman, Andrea G. 400 Photographs. New York: Little Brown, 2007. Print. Wells, Liz. Land Matters: Landscape Photography, Culture and Identity. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2011. Print.  Read More