“Some photographers take reality… and impose the domination of their own thought and spirit. Others come before reality more tenderly and a photograph to them is an instrument of love and revelation.”
Ansel Adams
The late winter and early spring are perhaps not New England’s most attractive periods of the year. Certainly their palettes can’t compare to the warmth of our autumn colors or the vivid greens of summer. If we look beyond the faded greens, the stoney blues and washes of grey, however, we may find more to appreciate in this wet and soggy season than we presume.
Today, February 20th, is the birthday of Ansel Adams; a man who was inspired by and inspired in many a deep appreciation for wild places. He was an active environmental advocate who described his first visit to Yosemite National Park as “the great event”. He spoke to Congressmen and Presidents about the need to preserve America’s natural treasures.
As a photographer, he is known for his clear understanding of light, which allowed him to show the grandeur of the places he visited. The deeply black shadows pull the observer into these vast natural places and even the sensation of the air is tangible. His photographs prompted many to go out and see the places he had captured with his lens.
In the spirit of the man who managed to impart a sense of mystery and awe of wild places with his art, let’s use this holiday week as a chance to get outside and find those same qualities in the wealth of natural places around us. Within the Ipswich River watershed alone there are so many natural places to explore. With just the viewfinder of your eyes, or with a camera, go out and take them in.
*Photo of paddler at Great Neck admittedly not by Ansel Adams.