When Adams set out to photograph Nevada Fall in the spring of 1947, it was obvious that the Mist Trail was not to be used. This trail, so named because of the thick mists coming off Vernal Fall, could not be used without getting his camera equipment wet. So he opted for the Horse Trail, a sparsely shaded, dry, hot, slow access road where he walked with his heavy gear in the midday sun. See more
The purpose of Ansel's trip was not only to see autumn at its most spectacular, but also to capture on film a rarer sight. In spring, at the right time of day, sunlight refracts through the spray, creating a rainbow that draws a beautiful line across the base of Nevada Falls. Ansel had recently been hired to test a new type of Kodak color film, Ektachrome, which was created in hopes of allowing professionals and amateurs to develop their own color photographs. To demonstrate the vivid colors of the new film, Eastman Kodak (the company's name at the time) asked him to take several pictures of rainbows for use in promotional materials.
About Ansel Adams
American photographer, born in San Francisco, Ansel Adams is one of the pioneers of photography.
He made his first photographs in 1916 in Yosemite National Park, California. From the beginning, he showed a passion for America's magnificent landscapes. Intended to become a pianist, his meeting with Paul Strand in 1930 would leave an indelible mark on him, confirming his vision of a photography that was pure and devoid of artifice. See more
In 1932, Ansel Adams founded the now famous "f/64" group with exceptional photographers such as Edward Weston, John Paul Edwards and Williard van Dyke. Their line of conduct: close the diaphragm to its maximum - that of the photographic cameras of the time - and capture the landscapes with the greatest precision and the smallest details, thanks to a depth of field extending from the foreground to infinity.
Ansel Adams will devote a large part of his life - and work - to American national parks. Through the purity of his images, he will contribute to their preservation and arouse the general public's enthusiasm for nature, even encouraging the creation of new protected areas. All the photographs of Ansel Adams National Parks together make up 24 albums.