Ansel Adams Most Famous Photograph: Moon Over Hernandez

[@marcsilber]

Hearing the story from both Ansel and his son -- I learned why you always have to be prepared to capture that image that could go away at any moment!

[@ronaldov09]

Sometimes I find myself in a situation where I am rushing as I am scared of loosing the light....and end up stuffing it up!

[@thormusique]

Thank you so much for this! I'm just an amateur photographer, but a devoted one. And my guide and muse throughout everything I've done photographically has been Ansel Adams. Whenever I visualize an image, I can hear his "voice" in my head, helping me to apply the craft in my attempt to produce art. He wasn't merely a photographer; he was an Artist whose medium happened to be photography. And he formulated just about the most coherent philosophy of the creation of art that I've ever come across. His works speak volumes about what it is to be an artist, to be an American, and to be human. For me, Adams will always remain one of the great artistic and visionary spirits of the 20th century.

[@clarson2916]

I’ve always found it interesting that Ansel Adams dedicated most of his career to photographing remote wild places, yet his most famous photo is of a small rural town, and was taken from the side of the road a few steps from his vehicle. Moonrise is a photograph that shows the town surrounded by the beautiful natural world. The crosses always stop me, and make me feel small and temporary. Is it the composition? Is it the lighting? Is it the drama added in the darkroom? Is it the human element that makes this photo a more universal human experience? Is it the story? Isn’t it always the story?

[@tgchism]

It's always been a favorite image for me!

[@charlesjohnson165]

I could not in a thousand years begin to share the amazing impact that Ansel Adams work has had on my life. I am not a professional photographer. To be a professional would mean I would have to earn a living with my photography. Rather, it is so personal and so special that I savor every photographic experience the way someone else might savor a fine bottle of wine. Each bit of knowledge Ansel Adams shared is a treasure just as the work of other fine artists (Picasso , Monet or VanGoah) work which has been shared has enhanced the world. For those who have not yet full experienced the work of this artist, sit back and enjoy each image. Look at it, then put it down and go to the next, when you are done start again, every time you look you will see some new aspect that you overlooked before. Why? because no one can fully ingest his visualization with one just one look. You can say that your eye's are playing tricks on you or you can realize that this amazing artist rare skill, (between the image and his darkroom) has shared the beauty of art that few if anyone else has the talent to create. This is work that the term masterpiece struggles to but does not totally define. C. Warner Johnson, [e-mail]

[@marcsilber]

Thanks Charles, for your great way of putting it!

[@myk1200s]

MARK, I really appreciate you showing us [ the viewer] these extraordinary images and the people and the history behind the making of the photographs. truly remarkable and just think they didn't have all this sophisticated equipment that we have today. keep it up thank you.

[@marcsilber]

So happy to hear! I love bringing you these amazing photographers!

[@achak74]

Feel in love with this photo when I saw it in an exhibition at the US center in Delhi in 1980

[@nopriors]

"Chance favors the prepared mind" Louis Pasteur. Thanks for sharing this. I learned a new inspirational quote that makes so much sense and I think we all intuitively know. Just need to remember to prepare. Peace Greg

[@marcsilber]

you're right, shows you how much we need to know our equipment to be able to capture the image no matter what!

[@joshua_forrest]

That grabbed my attention too, excellent quote that I've never heard until today.

[@marcsilber]

+Gregory and later Ansel rephrased it to. ...the prepared photographer. So true as we see here!

[@rogeralsop3479]

Marvellous photo.

[@ronscholefield1894]

Fantastic.

[@marcsilber]

🙏

[@jimcrotty]

Wonderful story behind the image, my favorite of Adams' work

[@tom4342]

Fascinating

[@dalemews1]

Thanks Marc! Fascinating to discover the story behind one of photography's iconic images

[@djrbfmbfm-woa]

amazing. thank you. j.

[@Nat.ImagesLarge.F.Photographer]

Ansel Adam's fine art photographer,admirable!

[@maple1255]

This wonderful image shows Ansel's ability to visualize how he wished it to appear as a print, so interesting too that in the early days of printing this photograph, he had not employed the very dark sky in contrast to the white crosses which he used in later prints. The clouds which formed just above the mountains are remarkable too. When he goes back years later to the same place, in mid day, it is a mundane scene, so his mastery of 'seizing the moment' appears yet again, for the deep enjoyment of so many.

[@marcsilber]

So true

[@martinhd28v1]

Ansel is famous for giving us the concept of (pre)visualization and I have seen many videos where he talks about the importance of conceiving the finished look of a photograph before you take the shot. I've heard many photographers emphasize this as well. Whilst I think it's great to be able to conceive how the finished product will look before you even snap the shutter, it's by no means the only way to do photography. I wonder if Ansel realized that a lot of his great photographs were actually post visualized. For example, as was pointed out in this video, the way he processed Moonrise Over Hernandez initially is significantly different from how he did in later years. Clearly he re-visualized it in the later years and developed it accordingly. The latter version probably wasn't how he seen it in his minds eye when he took the shot. My personal preference is for the darker, more moodier post visualized/re-imagined version. As he famously said, the negative is like the composer's score and the print is the performance. There's many ways to perform the score so we shouldn't get too hung up on the performance while taking the shot. Just make a good score.

[@maple1255]

@@martinhd28v1 I think both things are true, to be able to previsualize a scene, or afterward as you say, Ansel's vision of how he wanted to make the print of this scene evolved over time. There is also something to be said of making a photograph spontaneously, with 35 mm film or now with digital. But with his heavy camera and tripod, plus the cost of film, it was important to get the composition 'just right'.

[@af4od02]

I like the chart Ansel made of the photograph of his dark room process.

[@darrendavenport3334]

I doubt even Einstein could have made sense of that....

[@ThePosiview]

Wonderful. Thank you very much.

[@KGSasthaPrakash]

Truly remarkable! Thank you for this!!

[@vinnym6734]

Wonderful, wonderful video!

[@rogerlucas777]

Wonderful, an eye opener,thanks.

[@GerardPerez-z7g]

this is my magic photography that I always try to copy. my question which lens in he used compared to 24X36 mm. thanks you

[@bmwbob51]

I saw a large flat exposure with all the the dodging and burn in written on the print. I also saw a large Moon Over Herandez New Mexico for sale at the Yosemite Ansel Gallery in the early 70s for $3000, but no $$$. He was a friend of the family, but never met him. He did a portfolio on my great uncle Russ Varian to help buy Cassel Rock Park.

[@marcsilber]

Seriously?! I’ve seen some of that portfolio Your uncle must have known my dad Bernard. Together with a group of families we donated Long Ridge to the open space. You must be from the area?

[@bmwbob51]

@@marcsilber I have 3 of the photos and the rest are In Halcyon, Where Russ, Sig and myself grew up.

[@phillipkokesh6152]

Ansel Adams is the photographic artist i have admired most in my life... i was trying to think of the name he gave to that giant moon hovering over the mountain scene in Mexico, so close it looked like you could touch it; never could understand how he got that shot, as i was 'told' Ansel never used special effects. if you know the work i'm talking about, please let me know, thanks. i enjoyed the video; an unexpected treat..!

[@wildflowers5555]

Well written. (However I think also you meant "New Mexico".)

[@pcaridad]

I've never seen the "original" until now. Thank you. And I'm sorry, but for me that is way better than the further, more processed one.

[@TheStockwell]

Adams never got tired of telling this story. It's not that he was bragging about being a technical genius. He was pointing out that you can do without essential equipment if you have enough experience, intuition - and pure luck to put them into play. Photographically speaking, the Force was with him on this occasion.

[@marcsilber]

Yes chance favors the prepared photographer as he said often.

[@davidperrylawrence7332]

Hi again Marc--One thing I forgot to mention - Love all those boxes, crates, who knows what they were carrying in that truck in the photo. A regular safari! Remarkable there was any room for them after a day going out shooting!

[@marcsilber]

+David Lawrence really quite a kit to pack around!

[@KenLeePhotographer]

Thanks Marc, I really enjoyed your video. Well done!

[@marcsilber]

Thanks for watching Ken!

[@grillage2]

I know this image all too well! Seeing the actual negative is so impressive!

[@DougGrinbergs]

St. Ansel was a darkroom master - so much vision, technique, patience in all that dodging and burning. Few young people will ever grok this complexity.

[@marcsilber]

not kidding and most people don't realize taht Adobe came to his darkroom to observe all his controls when developing Photoshop

[@JCarlos.unknown]

Awesome.

[@aeromodeller1]

I've watched the printings of this photo over the years, from the original 8x10 "straight print" to the recent larger format contrasty images. The straight print method was closely bound to his contact printing from 8x10 negatives and his Zone System. Brett Weston used to tease him about the elaborate Zone System, saying a photographer who knew his materials didn't need all the folderol. Brett also favored a contrasty graphic quality in his prints. I suspect Ansel was influenced by Brett. Keep in mind that the previous generation of great western photographers, such as William Henry Jackson, Eadweard Muybridge and Carleton Watkins did not have light meters. They judged the scene by eye for exposure and printed by eye. You get a sense of that in his darkroom notes. He is adjusting local print exposure by eye. The Adams Gallery is now making digital prints that look every bit as good as original photographs.

[@marcsilber]

Thanks for your notes. At the end of the day it’s about art and use of tools to get the desired results

[@darrendavenport3334]

One of the most famous photos next to "Stars over Bulgaria"....

[@Rev.DavidJTowns]

love it

[@marcsilber]

Thank you!

[@rickoldano9257]

In the early Spring of 1984, I was participating in a weekend photography workshop being conducted by Martha Casanave in the Carmel-By-The-Sea, CA area. Our first day consisted of working on the beach at Garrapata State Park and at the home of one of the Weston sons. At the conclusion of the day’s photography, we all piled into the van that brought us and Martha then asked if anyone would be interested in going into the Photography West gallery in Carmel on the way back to our vehicles. On the drive back to Carmel, one of the other photographers asked me about what I knew about this one Ansel Adams photograph, since he knew I was quite the aficionado of his work. I asked him if he knew the title of the image but all he could do was tell me that there was a cemetery in the foreground and an old church, and mountains in the background with the moon in the sky. Grinning, I told him yes, I knew the photo and that it was probably the most famous photo taken to that point in time, but definitely Ansel Adams most famous. I felt sure there would be one for him to look at at Photo West. There was indeed a signed 16 X 20 of “Moonrise” available for sale, printed sometime in the ‘70s. It was there on consignment, priced at $10,000. I turned to my friend, told him to sell his car, sell his house, etc., and buy that photo, it was a tremendous steal. The date: April 22, 1984, the day that Ansel Adams passed away. Epilogue: It is my understanding that the consigned print sold within a day or two later for $18,000.

[@marcsilber]

What an amazing story Rick! Too bad he didn't heed your advice!

[@davidperrylawrence7332]

Hi Marc--Thanks for this. Knowing the proper exposure for the moon without a light meter isn't all that remarkable, though, especially for someone of his era. Introducing foot-candles and lumens might even make it harder. The moon is illuminated by the sun, just like the earth is, so the brightest part is the same as shooting on the earth in daylight, approx F/16 at 1/ISO. Add half a stop for the light having to pass thru the earth's atmosphere and you get something like f/11-f/11.5 at 1/ISO. Now the question is the matter of the brightness of the moon and that of the houses, mountains, etc on the Earth balancing. Remarkable that he got it. I've seen an original print up close many times at the Museum of Modern Art, and always loved it. Interestinlgly, on that particular print you can see where it had been spotted, I.e., dust spots painted out with a fine brush.Thanks again, David Perry Lawrence

[@marcsilber]

+David Lawrence thanks David. I must say I'm glad not to have to carry that math in my head with modern cameras 😎 thanks for watching! Next week you see inside his darkroom!

[@shirlenecarrillo9797]

This picture has a special meaning to me the property once belonged to my family.

[@chris24hdez]

0:31 Where can I get another copy of that same print?

[@marcsilber]

check AnselAdams.com they have various types of prints

[@rachavya]

A genius can transform what is into what might be.

[@marcsilber]

nice quote!

[@rachavya]

@@marcsilber I'm quoting myself (since no one else will). ;-)

[@marcsilber]

Good one!!

[@jackallen6261]

I never really understood until now that the great photographers like Ansel actually spent as much time in the darkroom as they did. I always kind of assumed they shot for the most part strait out of the camera. I began my odyssey in photography in 1978 as a yearbook photographer in high school. We spent countless hours in the darkroom trying to get just the right contrast in an image, burning and dodging mostly. I switched to digital about 12 years ago and discovered photoshop and never looked back! It is unfortunate though that most photographers starting today will never understand the time and effort that went into a single image in an actual darkroom, Don't get me wrong I don't want to go back and shoot on film, lol. I can do in photoshop in a few minutes what would have taken a half hour in the dark room. Technology is wonderful!!

[@marcsilber]

+Jack Allen I agree Jack it's good to know the roots of photography. But I imagine painters said the same thing of the early guys-/ they don't realize how easy it is! Cheers. M

[@DougGrinbergs]

For the curious, Wikipedia page has coordinates en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moonrise%2C_Hernandez%2C_New_Mexico

[@marcsilber]

Thanks Doug, it looks totally different now though

[@Wingman115]

What’s crazy is the timing. He only had a few minutes to capture that image then the light would be different.

[@marcsilber]

yes it was and he didn't have his meter! Always be prepared!

[@angelcastillo7043]

Yo tengo una fotografía igualita a la de Morrison pero no sé dónde venderla

[@marcsilber]

muy buena y buena suerte! Por cierto, ¿te gustaría traducir este video a subtítulos en español? si es así escríbanos [e-mail] gracias!

[@lamathunderbolt]

It's called "Moonrise Hernandez, New Mexico."

[@Moodboard39]

Interesting. New Mexico beautiful state

[@JeromeMilac]

Well, old masters knew by heart things like 250 cd/ft2 for the moon or f/16 rules etc, which made them less dependable on technology, hence more available to creativity.

[@OEHSBandBooster]

I wonder what the guy driving by in the pickup yelled?

[@marcsilber]

+Lynn Franger dude I love your photography!

[@adventureswithfrodo2721]

I like the original image.

[@marcsilber]

It’s art so it’s one’s own opinion

[@Moodboard39]

I could see ...why u like it?

[@bigstick5278]

This location is basically covered by trees, surrounded by run down mobile homes. You can get to the church but you can't take photos. Drive north on 285 to El Camino De Abajo Road on the right drive less than a block and you will see the church on the right. Click on the Google map link below. www.google.com/maps/@36.0576764,-106.1141365,3a,75y,241.4h,87.58t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s_-ohKlsObbX4YD7kj4OXjQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

[@marcsilber]

Thanks for the update, sad to hear

[@philipadam7870]

To use "darkroom magic" to describe his technique is unfortunate. What is remarkable is the progression of Ansel's interpretations in the printing of moonrise over the course of his lifetime.

[@Hassebas88]

ansel's a boss

[@marcsilber]

👍

[@RocmanUSA]

Attribution required

[@marcsilber]

They're all there Rocky 7:57 , including you! 8:02 Thanks again for your help!!

[@taylornguyen1268]

I see that picture at my school what

[@joshua_forrest]

Great video, I just discovered your channel thanks to a link from PetaPixel. Subbed and eager to check out more content, thank you!

[@marcsilber]

+Josh Forrest thanks josh for climbing aboard! We've got lots more coming up too but be sure to check out our other Ansel videos.

[@robertbdesmond]

Not my favorite AA photo. I prefer several others. Primarily…Monolith, Moonrise Half Dome, Tetons/Snake River, Mount Williamson and a few others. Monolith is my favorite, along with his hike up there when he was a young photographer.