Ansel Adams

When Adams was four, the earthquake and fire in San Francisco caused him to break his nose, deforming him for life and making it difficult for him to fit in. He was tutored by his father and aunt before moving on to private school. He loved playing the piano, and for a dozen years it was his primary occupation. He completed his first fully visualized photograph, the Face of Half Dome in 1927. Adams spent most his summers photographing in the Sierra Nevada, and made a number of trips to the Southwest to work with Mary Austin. Because of his financial challenges he was forced to do a lot of commercial work, stifling his creativity.

I love this photo because of the contrast between the white water and the black trees and the dark grey cliffs. I love the rainbow of mist. This photo brings pure joy because I find peace in nature. Even though it is in black and white, when I look at it I see the green of the trees, the colorful rainbow, and the bright, vivid blue sky that all are associated with this type of photo.