I studied with Ansel Adams in 1973.

In this video we hear from RMSP co-founder Neil Chaput de Saintonge who studied with Ansel Adams in 1973. Neil talks about his experience learning from Ansel, and how it helped shape the vision of what Rocky Mountain School of Photography is today!
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CONTACT INFORMATION
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Email (business inquiries only): [e-mail]
Mailing Address (for product reviews):
Attn: Forest Chaput de Saintonge
Rocky Mountain School of Photography
301 Expressway
Missoula, MT 59808
USA
#anseladams #photography #landscape

[@forestchaput]

Who here has learned from Neil in the past?

[@WayOffTheTrail]

Not directly but I had the Zone System book back in the 70s and I definitely learned a lot about black-and-white photography.

[@scottk4922]

Back in the late 1990s and early 2000's, I did 5 workshops with Neil and others at RMSP (Maine, Vermont, Yosemite (2x), Missoula) and learned a TON!!! Those were the days when we shot slide film. The Zone System... Who Knew!! Now I shoot 4x5 B/W but those RMSP workshops were instrumental to my photographic enthusiasm and progress as an artist. Thanks Neil !!!!

[@lisausher6354]

Me! LOVED every minute of my time with Neil and RMSP Summer Intensive - go Group D - in 2013. Hello to all :o)

[@jonhellerphotography]

I was summer intensive class of 1998

[@KathyEyster]

Neil with hair!!! :-) Thanks for sharing your story.

[@forestchaput]

Hahaha, you're welcome Kathy!

[@carladavies891]

Neil Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge, your enthusiasm and most of all your love of photography! Parker and I are forever grateful for all you helped us with including our first mirrorless cameras!📸 You are the best!!🎉❤📸

[@gilbertwalker6769]

I loved Neil's sharing! And I had a wonderful experience at the RMSP Summer Intensive in 2022. I learned so much in a supportive environment and made some really good friends.

[@forestchaput]

Thanks for sharing!

[@toamandamarshall]

Neil is the absolute best!! I loved watching this video, it took me back to my RMSP days in 2006. Treasured memories, for sure! Neil is a wealth of knowledge and kindness. I’m so grateful for the education, inspiration and encouragement I received from Neil and everyone at RMSP.

[@forestchaput]

Thank you for sharing!

[@boatman222345]

Very interesting video and I totally agree that the technical aspects must come first. "Vision" can not be expressed without some level of mastery of the camera anymore than a great novel can be written without first learning the alphabet. I never studied with Ansel Adams but I did take a course in the Zone System in 1970. The instructor was at the time the head of the photography department at Sandia Labs in Albuquerque New Mexico. The course consisted of shooting a high contrast still life with three twelve exposure 21/4 rolls with atwin lens Rolliflex. Each roll was shot at 4 stops under, 1 shot normal, and 7 stops over. One roll was developed 1/2 normal, one roll was developed normal, and the third roll at twice normal. We spent the rest of the class in the darkroom making prints from the negatives. It was an amazing experience but truth be told none of the 7 students completely understood the magic. Later on I stumbled upon Minor White's excellent book on the zone system which I found much more accessible than Ansel's. When I switched to digital cameras a decade ago I found, however, that the incredible sophistication on camera light meter systems pretty much makes the zone system out of date. Whereas my old Weston meter simple measured the light intensity todays meters not only read the light level they assess it by comparing the reading ti a database of thousands of readings and make the zone system decision for you. All one needs do now is expose to the right until the highlights are nearly over exposed and let the tools of post processing accomplish the magi mixture. If Ansel were alive today I suspect he'd be a Photoshop guru.

[@forestchaput]

Thanks for sharing!

[@garretvaughn7936]

This video takes me back to the Summer Intensive course, class of 2003, listening to Neil’s wonderful stories and learning so much about photography from a true artist. Neil made everyone feel at ease and loved, as well as igniting a new passion for photography in all the students. He and all the instructors made a huge difference in our lives! Thank you, Neil, for sharing your knowledge and wisdom with us over all the years!

[@forestchaput]

That’s wonderful! Thanks for sharing.

[@SuryaFriends]

Absolute legend ⭐ loved to hear his experience........ Love from India 🇮🇳

[@jeffmatranga]

Wonderful!

[@forestchaput]

Thanks Jeff!

[@eddiesutton4716]

I studied under Neil back in the '70s in Atlanta. Only with the advent of digital cameras and Lightroom software did I give up my darkroom, chemicals, and enlarger, but I still miss the process of developing and printing to this day. And I still lean on the many many things Neil taught us about photography. And because of him, I think, every picture I take I still try to visualize in B&W.

[@forestchaput]

That's so awesome to hear!

[@tomwestbrook]

It’s not random that Ansel wrote his books Camera, Negative, print in that order. It you can’t study at RSMP, study those books!