Darkness

Daunting foreboding shadows. A sense of overbearing calmness and barrenness compliments the contrasts illustrated in Ansel Adam’s photograph, Merced River cliffs, Autumn. When every detail is observed and consequently analyzed, the feeling of powerlessness, potentially caused by a rise in industrialization, can be seen. It is through pollution and run off caused by industrialization that nature can suffer. Adams seems to illustrate the effects that industrialization would have on nature by capturing this image in a particular manner.

The use of black and white photography effectively reveals the contrast between the land with abundant vegetation and the barren, dead land. This sharp contrast causes the barren land to appear empty and lifeless as no traces of humankind can be observed. This emptiness of life appears in three locations in this photograph. First, the viewer may notice the patch of white land off to the right front corner, as it almost appears that light is shining down from above on it. Secondly, due to the disparity of the dark river and white land, the shoreline on the right side of the river draws the eye in quite easily. Lastly, gaze at the trees on the right side of the river. A few short stubby limbs, without leaves, emerge from the ground. Adams could have simply cut out the right corner that appears empty in this photograph, but leaves it in the frame. This particular corner, as well as the other barren shoreline, serve to possibly show how vegetation in the Merced River cliffs isn’t thriving. These barren areas illustrate the sense of powerlessness. As a conversationalist, Adams may be showing that with industrialization on the rise, life forms are struggling for survival, thus the beauty of nature suffers. Without protection from these industries, this scene appears powerless against the pollution and run-off that consequently kills organisms and vegetation in the area.

On the right side of the river, trees are observed that have leaves that appear fragile and dead. The limbs of the trees are much darker than the leaves, thus, the leaves appear significantly smaller in size. This is also due to the fact that Adams decided to take this photo in black and white. The color white gives the leaves an air like quality. Undernourishment could be a conceivable reason why these leaves look dried out, which leads to the illusion of deadness. It is feasible that this undernourishment is directly related to the water that the trees are soaking in from the river. Polluted water extinguishes the life in trees, which could be an explanation for why they appear dead. Going back to the idea of industrialization, it is industries that leak chemicals that get into these rivers, which have a detrimental affect on nature.

The illusion of deadness combined with the sensation the boulder gives off in this photograph officiates this sense of powerlessness. The large rock mass consumes the background of the frame, and was taken in such a way that the boulder has dark black shadows on either side of it. This contributes to the eerie looming feeling that I felt when I first examined this photograph. The shadows give the boulder a 3-D dimension that makes it appear significantly larger than all the other vegetation. The boulder comes at the viewer and is almost taking the attention away from the beauty in front of it. Possibly, Adams took this shot in a certain manner to show that the boulder represents industrialization; solid, hard, unstoppable. The delicacy of nature in front of this boulder seems to be suffering by a lack of light. Taking it a step further, the charm of this nature has suffered due to this superior industry and now is seemingly powerless.

As the boulder has a great presence in the photograph, the river and the smaller tree closest to the boulder are comparatively small and look unprotected. The tree, barren, appears insufficient and exposed. The river, which has a dark sharp contrast at the bend, makes the turn seem never ending and ominous. The darkness of the river reminds me of the consistency and color of oil; a heavy pollutant. Furthermore, the reflections witnessed in this photograph cause the river to seem thick. If the river were clear and transparent, a reflection would most likely not be seen. However, due to this consistency, it is likely that the river is polluted or full of filth. The smaller tree noticed here was what originally first caught my eye. It serves as the focal point in the photograph, and potentially represents the beauty of nature and how it could be destroyed by industrialization. In comparison with all the diverse vegetation, this tree is prominent, and due to its proximity to the boulder, gives off the feeling of powerlessness.

Nature must be preserved on earth for both it’s beauty and for absorbing the harmful carbon dioxide that mankind releases. However, plants cannot survive if the water that they absorb is tainted with chemicals. Adams seems to demonstrate how industrialization would have an effect on nature in this photograph. He shoots the frame in such a way that the boulder seems to be taking over the vegetation below. By using black and white, this vegetation appears lifeless and powerless; it will be forced to succumb to the boulder. In order for this scenario to not occur, humankind must take measures to keep nature alive. Being a conversationalist, I believe that this was the message Adams was trying to get across to the viewer.