Ansel Adams: 400 Photographs

ANSEL ADAMS: 400 PHOTOGRAPHS presents the full spectrum of Adams' work in a single volume for the first time, offering the largest available compilation from his legendary photographic career. Beautifully produced and presented in an attractive landscape trim, ANSEL ADAMS: 400 PHOTOGRAPHS will appeal to a general gift-book audience as well as Adams' legions of dedicated fans and students.
The photographs are arranged chronologically into five major periods, from his first photographs made in Yosemite and the High Sierra in 1916 to his work in the National Parks in the 1940s up to his last important photographs from the 1960s. An introduction and brief essays on selected images provide information aboutAdams' life, document the evolution of his technique, and give voice to his artistic vision.

Few artists of any era can claim to have produced four hundred images of lasting beauty and significance. It is a testament to Adams' vision and lifetime of hard work that a book of this scale can be compiled. ANSEL ADAMS: 400 PHOTOGRAPHS is a must-have for anyone who appreciates photography and the allure of the natural world.

Customer Reviews:

A must-get book for any Adams' enthusiast

By C McGurk - October 28, 2007

If you want 400 finely reproduced photographs of the oeuvre of one of the greatest black and white photographers, Ansel Adams, then you must get this book. The photographs are reproduced with the fine attention to detail, shadow and contrast that Adams would have demanded. It was amazing to see his first photographs of Yosemite when he was 14 years old. Turning each page, one stumbles across photographs one has forgotten or never seen, or those one can never forget. Even though the book could have been just a little bit bigger, it is a nice size to fit on your lap without breaking your arms. This is a must-get book for any Adams' enthusiast.

Almost perfect, were it not because of...

By M. W. - January 20, 2008

the size. This book is about the size of 8x11, so it's not a large coffee table book size. What it lacks in area size, it makes it up in the number of great photos, all 400 of them.

I also own the Yosemite and the Range of Light, one of Ansel Adams most highly acclaimed publication printed back in the 70's. I compared the two books. The 400 uses a whiter paper stock. Many of the photos in the 400 look different from the Range of Light. Some have more contrast, some have less. It is sort of like a slightly different interpretation. I closely compared a couple of the photos, in one case, I found the 400 has more shadow details in the deep shadow area, but the Range of Light counterpart has more emotional impact; the larger size may have to do with the emotional part. In another case,the 400 has less overall contrast, and a lot more shadow information comparing to the Range of Light, and I like the 400 interpretation better.

This book is a must have for Ansel Adams... read more

A Great Source of Ideas for Amateur Photographers!

By Loyd E. Eskildson "Pragmatist" - November 2, 2007

"Ansel Adams: 400 Photographs" covers his work from the 1920s through the 1960s, organized chronologically into the largest compilation ever published of his work. Over one-third of the photos took place in the Sierra Nevada mountains - his favorite area. Adams was able to transform geographic reality into moving emotional experiences. Though a passion for the preservation of the natural world guided his photographs, he also included photos of buildings and an occasional individual. Close-ups and long-views, sunny and cloudy days - all were mastered by Adams.

I particularly like to look at these photos before going out with my camera - helps generate ideas.