Ansel Adams: “Mount McKinley and Wonder Lake” Denali National Park, Alaska, 1947

Sirius Glass · Jul 3, 2020

https://www.anseladams.com/mount-mc...ing_wp_cron=1593799982.8621559143066406250000

rorye · Jul 3, 2020

This photograph stops me in my tracks every time I see it.

Alan Edward Klein · Jul 3, 2020

He let most of the shadows go. The whole concept of wide DR would have ruined the impact of the black blacks. A good lesson.

pbromaghin · Jul 3, 2020

"Our gallery also offers a digitally mastered print of this image from Ansel’s original photograph, starting at $129. Purchase this Modern Replica print."

I wonder what that means. Did they scan the negative and make adjustments in Photoshop - If so, what time of his career did they choose to imitate? Scan a print - if so, from when? Like so many of his other prints, this one had to change through his life, especially as his cataracts scattered the light and made him print so darkly.

cowanw · Jul 3, 2020

Shadows were placed in zone 2.5 apparently, which would be between textured black; the darkest part of the image in which slight detail is recorded and average dark materials and low values showing adequate texture So the blacks are presumably greater than slight texture and less than adequate texture, so maybe semi mild slightly not yet adequate texture. Which demonstrates the problem looking at these things on line, eh!

Maris · Jul 3, 2020

A classic example of a great photograph not needing to be a plausible depiction of the real scene. See the sky above Mount McKinley is going to black but the reflection of the sky in Wonder Lake is going to white. Can't happen in real life but can happen in the photographic darkroom.

cliveh · Jul 3, 2020

A static scene with no people, how easy is that?

Sirius Glass · Jul 5, 2020

cliveh said:
A static scene with no people, how easy is that?

Sometimes one waits forever before you can take a photograph without people.

cliveh · Jul 5, 2020

I take it you are referring to the light being just right?

Ko.Fe. · Jul 5, 2020

I'm not zones expert, but link has crappy scan image. Magenta stain in the middle and some gunk on the left.
As for as I remember people who are looking after AA prints reproductions are very demanding for their quality.
This in the link is not.
So, I would hold on zones and shadows comments based on crappy scan.

Ansel Adams: “Mount McKinley and Wonder Lake” Denali National Park, Alaska, 1947

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