“No man has the right to dictate what other men should perceive, create or produce, but all should be encouraged to reveal themselves, their perceptions and emotions, and to build confidence in the creative spirit.”
― Ansel Adams
I have always been inspired by Ansel Adams. His images sing to me. Amazing rock faces, beautiful landscapes, black and white images that capture the world. I can’t even count how many times i’ve visited Yosemite. The first trip was back in the 70’s and so many since. I’ve traveled the back country, the east and west sides of the park and made thousands of images during that time. The one above is one of my favorites. This image was taken in 2015 after a storm cleared the valley. The lighting was perfect, a few clouds in the sky. When I got home and loaded it into my editing software, I fell in love with it immediately. Over the years I have revisited it and tweaked it even more as I gain new perspective and abilities with the tools available to me.
Some would say that I am just copying the work that has already been made, duplicating what already exists. While I am inspired by images of the past, I believe that we all have a unique perspective, our own way of seeing and interpreting the things we experience. My images are my my own, taken by me, looking through the lens, choosing when to click the shutter. If you travel the world with the idea that everything has already been done then why bother? Well this is my experience, my passion, my art. I may travel in the footsteps of others but I make new footprints. I make my own path and then share it with the world.
So thank you Ansel! Thank you for showing me the way, for inspiring many of my images. You shaped an entire genre of photography that will impact generations to come. I can only dream that some day, one of my images will continue on, beyond my time here, and will be the inspiration for even one person, one image, made because of something I created.
Until Tomorrow,
John