ANSEL’S NIGHTMARE

Ansel Adams was the foremost American landscape photographer for decades in the 20th Century, and his iconic work helped cement the majestic view of wild nature in the public consciousness. He was especially known for his work in the Sierra Nevada, where he contrasted the light granite cliffs against a black sky; he accomplished this dramatic work using red filters on black-and-white film in the field, and by his mastery of darkroom techniques. His work was so heavily manipulated that he could be called the spiritual forerunner of Photoshop–and I consider that high praise for someone working in the days before digital.

For this photograph, I was in Ansel’s beloved Yosemite Valley on a pristine autumn day, when the only jarring note was the presence of contrails overhead. What would Ansel think (WWAT)?

LIMITED EDITION: This photographic print is part of a limited edition produced by photographer Lee Rentz. The edition consists of 250 prints, which includes all sizes and methods of printing.