Shutter Mike Photography

Although Ansel Adams is known almost exclusively for his landscape photography of the American West there is much more to the body of work he has left behind than just those famous images.  NPR did a story recently on the Street Photography of Ansel Adams that is worth reading and viewing the slide show of Adams’ non-landscape work that is now housed in the Los Angeles Public Library’s art collection.  Like many photographer’s today it was difficult for Adams to make a living in the 1930s and 40s on his art photography alone.  So he worked on commissioned photography as well.  Those works were thought to be of little value at one time but now the Adams name alone significantly boosts their value.  It helps that the work is very good as well.

Speaking of Ansel Adams’ work I recently bought the book Ansel Adams: 400 Photographs.  Although it focuses almost entirely on the body of work he was best know for, the landscape photography of the American wilderness, it does find room among the 400 images for a sampling of his other work.  Both portraits and architectural photography done by Adams over his 60 year career are represented in the book.  It is a great collection and well worth adding to your photography library.  Everyone has one of those don’t they?