Sam Abell: My Journey in Photography

National Geographic photographer Sam Abell returns to the Jordan Schnitzer Museum Art on the University of Oregon campus on Saturday, September 28, at 2 p.m. for a lecture titled "My Journey in Photography," sponsored by Canon USA's Explorer of Light program. Abell's photography is included in the new exhibition "National Geographic Greatest Photographs of the American West," which opens to the public that same day.
Sam Abell has worked with the National Geographic Society since 1970 and has photographed more than twenty articles on various cultural and wilderness subjects. Abell's book credits include "Australia: Journey Through a Timeless Land" and "Seeing Gardens." In 1998, he collaborated with author Stephen Ambrose on "Lewis & Clark: Voyage of Discovery" and again in 2002 on "The Mississippi: River of History." That same year, he worked with author Leah Bendavid-Val to produce a retrospective of his life and work titled "Sam Abell: The Photographic Life."
Abell and Torbin Ulrik Nissen premiered their exhibition and accompanying book "Amazonia" at the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art in 2010. Abell lectures on photography, teaches workshops, and exhibits his images throughout the world; he is currently working on the multi-volume Sam Abell Library (Radius Books, Santa Fe).
"Sam Abell is the photographer's photographer," says JSMA executive director Jill Hartz. "He combines a fine art aesthetic with a deep, practiced, and intuitive understanding of how to take photographs that translates into unforgettable images. He is also a captivating storyteller, and I encourage anyone who is interested in photography and the American West not to miss this very special talk."
Abell will also attend the free public reception for "National Geographic Greatest Photographs of the American West," on Friday, September 27, from 6 to 8 p.m.
Drawn from the significant holdings of the National Geographic Archive, "National Geographic Greatest Photographs of the American West" offers a broad understanding of a region that has long captivated photographers. The exhibition, on view through Sunday, December 31, includes photographs by Sam Abell, Ansel Adams, William Albert Allard, Edward Curtis, David Alan Harvey, William Henry Jackson, Sarah Leen, and Joel Sartore, among many others.
Organized into four sections, the exhibition focuses on a different aspect of the American West and its importance to our national identity. "Legends" portrays some of the cowboys, Native Americans, and landscapes that define the vast area. "Encounters" showcases the interactions among the people of the West, visitors, and wildlife. "Boundaries" features places where endless skies, boundless plains, and dramatic mountains meet natural and manmade limits. "Visions" explores the growth of the American West and where its story may go in the future.
"The American West" was organized with the National Museum of Wildlife Art of the United States and Museums West; Presented by the Mays Family Foundation; Traveled by National Geographic. This exhibition is made possible at the JSMA by the Coeta and Donald Barker Special Exhibitions Endowment, The Harold & Arlene Schnitzer CARE Foundation, and JSMA members.

[@luisfbarbosa]

Amazing photographer, amazing journey!!! Thank you!!!!!

[@nickfanzo]

A master and one of my favorite photographers

[@RajanBhardvaj]

Thank you for sharing this wonderful talk !

[@ghalibkhan80]

Legend

[@enriqueacosta2250]

Wow❤

[@TommyRustad]

Excellent!

[@mingyugao6252]

At Home Outdoors? His best piece of OART

[@TheWaveSon]

WOW

[@nocommentnoname1111]

boring work.

[@nickfanzo]

Ummmm no. His work is iconic . Go troll elsewhere

[@rdalton7557]

National Geographic photographer for decades. He tells stories with his images. He doesn't tell his stories by shouting at the viewers,

[@nocommentnoname1111]

@@nickfanzo Fascist speech cop.

[@nocommentnoname1111]

@@rdalton7557 His work is a bit too esoteric for me, based too much on his own internal rules and interpretations. When you view a work of art you should not need an explanation from the artist to understand it, tho a smaller quantity of his work can be immediately appreciated. I am more into the philosophy of someone like Cartier-Bresson who considered documentary photography boring.

[@nickfanzo]

@@nocommentnoname1111 my mom raised me to believe that if you’re just going to spread negativity throughout the world and about others, you may just be better off not saying anything at all; instead of seeking out a way to show your negative thoughts