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CMoles-Ansel Adams Picture Project

Page history last edited by Jane D 14 years, 4 months ago

     Winter is my least favorite season. I dread those final days of autumn when all the trees have shed their leaves and the brisk temperature drops to a bitter and unpleasant chill. Snow, for me, is the single most important part of winter, because it is the only part of the season that I consider a plus. Even so, snow cannot make up for those red-nosed, raw-cheeked, frostbitten days of winter. Thankfully, Ansel Adams' photograph of a winter landscape stirred up none of these feelings.  I can identify a time when I have been a part of a similar situation, looking up at an endless, white web of branches surrounded by a sheet of untouched snow; however, there is a vital difference between a photograph and being a part of the scene in person. The bare simplicity of a black and white picture parallels the dark and drab feelings that wintry weather arouses in me, but again, the photo only served as an unwelcome reminder of depressing winter afternoons. Memory aside, none of those feelings came back to me as I analyzed Adams' work, and I could not transport myself back into that same state of discomfort. Despite the perfect quality of the photograph, it is not a substitute for reality. Thus, regardless of who took it or how it is displayed, a picture is not able to convey the true essence of nature. 

     Observations first taken from looking at a photograph often differ from reality. This picture initially caught my eye because it was mostly white amongst a majority of black photos. The pristine layer of snow creates a calm quietness and symbolizes purity. It seems as though it is completely isolated for there are no footprints leading to or from the tree, and the only visible movement in the picture is the snow falling from the branches to the ground. It seems as if this place stays in a constant state of complete stillness. In reality, this is not the case at all. The picture is called "Oak Tree, Snowstorm," indicating that nature had recently moved things around. Also, there is a small bird's nest perched in the top center of the oak tree. Along with being a subtle, yet beautiful addition to the photograph overall, it is further proof that this scene has not always been completely motionless. There is no way this photograph would have been able to portray a bird building a nest or a blizzard that had previously occurred. Assumptions can be made, but, without proof, assumptions they remain.

     Along with the uncertainty of conjecture, incorrect perception is also a problem. In my first notes I commented on the snow falling away from the trees, as if the wind was blowing straight down on the branches causing them to shiver and shake off what had laid upon it before. I remarked that this was "odd" seeing as besides the falling snow I could see no other movement in the picture. I remembered that specific detail when I returned to my notes, but when I went back to observe the photo again I saw something completely different. The "falling snow" seemed to have transformed into the shadow of a distant mountain in the far background. I noticed a prominent outline in the top right corner that previously I had not seen, and it clearly resembled a snow capped mountain top. Thus, a dilemma was created. What was actually in the picture? Was there snow being dispelled from the large tree, or was there an entire other form in the photograph that I had initially failed to see? I could not help but think that if I had been looking at this tree in person, that if there had been a more clear contrast between the snow-filled skies and the snow-covered tree, then perhaps this discrepancy would have never occurred. Observing it in real life would have shown such a clear distinction that my initial observations would have been enough to simply eliminate any doubt I would have had in the future. Unfortunately, that is not the case. The black and white tone of this picture is unchangeable, and I am forced to rely on my subpar observation skills and 20/80 eyesight to try and distinguish what is actually happening in the picture.

     With all due respect to Ansel Adams, a master photographer and absolute genius behind the lens, his photos have failed to deliver. I realize that these pictures are incomparable works of art, and yet I know that they are unable to bring about the same feelings I endure while being in a real life situation. I appreciate what he brings to the world of art but with an understanding that it is just that: art. A picture is most definitely worth a thousand words, but hardly one emotion.

 

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Comments (3)

Joe Essid said

at 8:35 pm on Sep 27, 2009

Hey--this is HONEST. I get blocked too. Try this exercise:

1) print out the Brainstorming exercise from Writer's Web, at: http://writing2.richmond.edu/writing/wweb/brainst.html
2) look it over
3) take a pad or your laptop to the Adams show. Then try that exercise in front of the photo
4) take your list home and finish the brainstorm. You'll have a TON more than you need.

michael.petrakis@richmond.edu said

at 4:11 pm on Sep 29, 2009

You take a long time introducing the subject, maybe talking a little too long about how much you hate winter. Then, you say that the portrait brings none of those feelings you had of winter to mind – so why mention those feelings in the first place? My largest concern is that you need to separate your own views of winter apart from your thesis. You have some great imagery examples using some very persuasive vocabulary – “The pristine layer of snow creates a calm quietness and symbolizes purity. That is genius. Also, you have a very strong thesis – saying that the picture is not a sufficient example of what reality should be like. Then, you do a great job backing up your evidence with your examples – the only problem is, you will have some major trouble figuring out what other claims you could make for your evidence. This is because your picture is of a tree in the winter – not much going on there.

Tip – Relate why you hate winter with your thesis more clearly. For example, tell how you don’t like the isolation of winter and it creates a sense of loneliness. Nature isn’t beautiful, its bare and cold.


Ryan Papera said

at 9:43 pm on Sep 30, 2009

I agree with Mike in that I also feel you take too long of a time to introduce your main topic. You also start with a so what sentence, but you do defend yourself. Also like Mike you use "I" in your introduction. In class Essid told us we probably would not have to do that.

Formatting: Essid also said that instead of using indents to just return a space. He said that was how Wikis are formatted.

Why is the word Sandstorm bold? Every time i look at your essay my eye goes right to that word because it is bold. Is it like that for a reason? or did you just overlook fixing it?

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