Making a Photographer: The Early Work of Ansel Adams

When writing an Amazon book review it is always good advice to examine the book in question beforehand. An earlier reviewer's facts are mostly correct, in a literal sense—there is in this book no mention of Ansel's Manzanar work (1942), his Fortune or Life work in the 1940s, or his large project for the University of California (1960s). But this should come as no surprise at all since the book, aside from its conclusion, spends its 200 pages before that concluding chapter examining the career and photographs of Ansel Adams up until only the late 1930s. The book is subtitled "The Early Work of Ansel Adams," after all. It tracks the development of Ansel Adams's mature style, through the 1920 and 1930s, sharing in detail Ansel's Parmelian Prints (his first portfolio), his photo album of the Sierra Club's 1928 to the Canadian Rockies, and images from his time in New Mexico in the 1930s. On the way the author goes in-depth describing Ansel's time in Yosemite as an employee of the Curry Company and how that experience—shooting advertising photographs—offered him tremendous opportunities to live in and photograph Yosemite until, as Ansel's confidence and fame as a photographer grew—and as the respect accorded his work by the company seemingly diminished—he cast off that relationship, rethinking his life. This is not a book about the entirety of Ansel's life nor even the entirety of his early life. It is instead a book that gives you a tour of the major photographic projects of Ansel Adams and a great deal about their background, tracing his artistic development. The book ends with a conclusion focusing on his national parks projects—many of his famous images appear here—and yes, the author retells the oft-told story of the making of Moonrise, Hernandez, but disposes of the story in one paragraph, offering not only a vintage Moonrise and a later Moonrise (to compare tonalities) but a straight proof print of Moonrise in recompense. It's a good book and here at Amazon ridiculously inexpensive as I write this. If you are interested in Ansel Adams as a photographer this is a book to get.

You are not an Ansel Adams fan if you do not have this book in your collection! It is an impressive and well-researched journey into the early influences that made Ansel the photographer we all know and love. The book itself is a work of art, with the book cover having the look and feel of an old photo album. I came across this book while researching an old family photo album from a Sierra Club High Sierra Camping Trip in the early 1920s. The album had many landscape images in the style and likeness of Ansel Adams, and I wanted to learn more. (Okay, let's face it, I wanted to know if Ansel was a part of that trip!). This book transported me to Yosemite in the 1920s and helped me explore the experiences of the family I never knew. Learning about Ansel's early influences in his journey into photography ended up giving me the missing context I needed to understand these old photo albums and the people within them.

Dr. Rebecca A Senf nailed it in her newly published book about one of the most influential Photographers of our time. The in depth discussions, images and information is truly an encyclopedia of the great Ansel Adams. Rebecca having done years of research and a Doctorate about the Photographer is absolutely reflected within the pages of this work of art in itself. As a photographer myself for many years and having gone through "traditional and classic" training and shooting, I must say this book speaks volumes for those of us that can appreciate the true art form of this medium. Every page is full of great information and wonderful images of one of the greatest influencers of the genre he immersed himself in. Rebecca's work has encouraged me to continue cataloging more and more of my own earlier work. This book is a must have for anyone who is a serious photographer or those that are merely trying to learn more about the masters that preceded and evolved to where we have become as photographers, or folks that just appreciate this wonderful form of art! Kudos to Dr. Rebecca Senf for the effort she took and a project well done honoring one of the Great Masters.

I have always thought that Ansel Adams’ early prints were among his best—softer and more intimate than his later work. Rebecca Senf in “Making A Photographer” confirms that notion. Senf shows in compelling detail how, by combining his love of wilderness with his interest in photography and by gradually establishing and building an audience, Adams was able to become the photographer we all know today. Hopefully, Senf’s book will go a long way toward giving Adams’ early work the attention it deserves. In addition to being thoroughly researched and well written, the book is beautifully designed and produced—an outstanding object. Don’t skip over the footnotes—there are many hidden gems here!

This book tells you how he became the incredible photographer that he was. I’ve read his technical books but never really new his life story. This book which took years to write fills in all the blanks. It completely tells his story of the early years that shaped his photographic life. If you like Ansel’s work with out a doubt you should read this book. I learned so much I never knew about his life from reading the book. From a historical perspective nothing is left out. It’s a great read!

Written by the Chief Curator at the Center for Creative Photography, which itself was born as part of Ansel Adams' vision, this book is an authorative look at the early professional life of Adams. Dr. Senf presents a careful in depth analysis of Adams' development as an artist. At the same time, the work is very readable, and enjoyable for any enthusiast fan of photography.

I am doing research on Adams and this book is essential! This book delves deep into Adams early career and helps one to see where his work and ideas stemmed from. It is so well-researched with wonderful details and photographs throughout. Thank you Dr. Senf for such a beautiful book.

I am a major Ansel Adams fan, love his compositions. I have many books including his autobiography. It is very interesting seeing his growth. About half way through the book.

An excellent book about Ansel Adams Early work and it’s influence.

I’m just impressed when I anything new about my hero. About his work in photography that he had done.

When writing an Amazon book review it is always good advice to examine the book in question beforehand. An earlier reviewer's facts are mostly correct, in a literal sense—there is in this book no mention of Ansel's Manzanar work (1942), his Fortune or Life work in the 1940s, or his large project for the University of California (1960s). But this should come as no surprise at all since the book, aside from its conclusion, spends its 200 pages before that concluding chapter examining the career and photographs of Ansel Adams up until only the late 1930s. The book is subtitled "The Early Work of Ansel Adams," after all. It tracks the development of Ansel Adams's mature style, through the 1920 and 1930s, sharing in detail Ansel's Parmelian Prints (his first portfolio), his photo album of the Sierra Club's 1928 to the Canadian Rockies, and images from his time in New Mexico in the 1930s. On the way the author goes in-depth describing Ansel's time in Yosemite as an employee of the Curry Company and how that experience—shooting advertising photographs—offered him tremendous opportunities to live in and photograph Yosemite until, as Ansel's confidence and fame as a photographer grew—and as the respect accorded his work by the company seemingly diminished—he cast off that relationship, rethinking his life. This is not a book about the entirety of Ansel's life nor even the entirety of his early life. It is instead a book that gives you a tour of the major photographic projects of Ansel Adams and a great deal about their background, tracing his artistic development. The book ends with a conclusion focusing on his national parks projects—many of his famous images appear here—and yes, the author retells the oft-told story of the making of Moonrise, Hernandez, but disposes of the story in one paragraph, offering not only a vintage Moonrise and a later Moonrise (to compare tonalities) but a straight proof print of Moonrise in recompense. It's a good book and here at Amazon ridiculously inexpensive as I write this. If you are interested in Ansel Adams as a photographer this is a book to get.

You are not an Ansel Adams fan if you do not have this book in your collection! It is an impressive and well-researched journey into the early influences that made Ansel the photographer we all know and love. The book itself is a work of art, with the book cover having the look and feel of an old photo album. I came across this book while researching an old family photo album from a Sierra Club High Sierra Camping Trip in the early 1920s. The album had many landscape images in the style and likeness of Ansel Adams, and I wanted to learn more. (Okay, let's face it, I wanted to know if Ansel was a part of that trip!). This book transported me to Yosemite in the 1920s and helped me explore the experiences of the family I never knew. Learning about Ansel's early influences in his journey into photography ended up giving me the missing context I needed to understand these old photo albums and the people within them.

Dr. Rebecca A Senf nailed it in her newly published book about one of the most influential Photographers of our time. The in depth discussions, images and information is truly an encyclopedia of the great Ansel Adams. Rebecca having done years of research and a Doctorate about the Photographer is absolutely reflected within the pages of this work of art in itself. As a photographer myself for many years and having gone through "traditional and classic" training and shooting, I must say this book speaks volumes for those of us that can appreciate the true art form of this medium. Every page is full of great information and wonderful images of one of the greatest influencers of the genre he immersed himself in. Rebecca's work has encouraged me to continue cataloging more and more of my own earlier work. This book is a must have for anyone who is a serious photographer or those that are merely trying to learn more about the masters that preceded and evolved to where we have become as photographers, or folks that just appreciate this wonderful form of art! Kudos to Dr. Rebecca Senf for the effort she took and a project well done honoring one of the Great Masters.

I have always thought that Ansel Adams’ early prints were among his best—softer and more intimate than his later work. Rebecca Senf in “Making A Photographer” confirms that notion. Senf shows in compelling detail how, by combining his love of wilderness with his interest in photography and by gradually establishing and building an audience, Adams was able to become the photographer we all know today. Hopefully, Senf’s book will go a long way toward giving Adams’ early work the attention it deserves. In addition to being thoroughly researched and well written, the book is beautifully designed and produced—an outstanding object. Don’t skip over the footnotes—there are many hidden gems here!

This book tells you how he became the incredible photographer that he was. I’ve read his technical books but never really new his life story. This book which took years to write fills in all the blanks. It completely tells his story of the early years that shaped his photographic life. If you like Ansel’s work with out a doubt you should read this book. I learned so much I never knew about his life from reading the book. From a historical perspective nothing is left out. It’s a great read!

Written by the Chief Curator at the Center for Creative Photography, which itself was born as part of Ansel Adams' vision, this book is an authorative look at the early professional life of Adams. Dr. Senf presents a careful in depth analysis of Adams' development as an artist. At the same time, the work is very readable, and enjoyable for any enthusiast fan of photography.

I am doing research on Adams and this book is essential! This book delves deep into Adams early career and helps one to see where his work and ideas stemmed from. It is so well-researched with wonderful details and photographs throughout. Thank you Dr. Senf for such a beautiful book.

I am a major Ansel Adams fan, love his compositions. I have many books including his autobiography. It is very interesting seeing his growth. About half way through the book.

An excellent book about Ansel Adams Early work and it’s influence.

I’m just impressed when I anything new about my hero. About his work in photography that he had done.

A hagiography. Not a complete portrait of Adams' work. No mention of his commercial "hired hand" photographs-- his work at Manzanar, University of California or his Fortune and Life magazine work in the 40's for example. Even if Adams himself did not like his "day job" as a commercial photographer or its results, the work at least deserves a mention. Is that the next book or are we just gonna have to groove on the dozens versions of "Moonrise" and "Half Dome". Nothing new here.

This is an indispensable work for all who cherish Ansel Adams, and an essential reading experience for artists, storytellers and photography fans everywhere. Rebecca Senf takes us on a deep, immersive journey into the iconic photographer's earlier years offering insight into how an artist's vision is formed, and how it turn forms us. With rare images, MAKING A PHOTOGRAPHER is as engaging and moving as it is scholarly — a pleasure to read, savor and behold.

Be forewarned, just because there is a "Dr" in front of Becky Senf's name does not mean this is an academic tome. It is a very readable exploration of Ansel Adam's early career. The text is broken up with wonderful photographs that actually relate to the immediate text. Even if you are not familiar with Ansel Adams he was present at an interesting time in history, particularly in Taos, New Mexico when Mabel Dodge Lujan ruled in the early twentieth century. Many of the Taos painters were at their prime, and Georgia O'Keeffe, Edward Weston. Paul Strand. and D.H.Lawrence among others were frequent visitors. Becky Senf's writing is top of the line, and Ansel Adam's life is worth reading about.

What a fascinating book! I read Making a Photographer: The Early Work of Ansel Adams, by Rebecca Senf over 4 sessions. Senf’s organization, transitions and easy writing style make the book very readable. In each of six chapters we learn about how Adams began to absorb his craft, we learn about his relationships with the people around him, and most important, his deep awe for the land. Adams started as a High Sierra mountaineer and as that skill developed, so did his skill as an image maker. Publication of his images evolved from a family album to advertising material, yet he carefully cultivated a niche in the fine art photography market. He strove for maximum control over the entire print/publication process including how his images would be presented. Thanks to the rich selection of photographs in this book we can experience for example, a trek through the High Sierra in Adams’ Parmelion Prints as Adams presented them. Indeed, notwithstanding the excellent quality of the images in the book, the reader is motivated to go seek out some of Adams’ original work for a closer look. I’m headed to the Center for Creative Photography (where I bought the book) at the University of Arizona in Tucson!