Ansel Adams: A Biography

by Mary Street Alinder

In his 1985 autobiography, Ansel Adams presented a life almost as neatly cropped and printed as his magnificent pictures. Here, Mary Street Alinder--who collaborated with Adams on his memoir and was his assistant in later life--is not reticent about the major emotional episodes in Adams's life, including his marriage and extramarital affairs, and his not-altogether-successful fatherhood. She explores the major artistic influences on his work and gives in-depth profiles of the significant figures in his circle. She also explains the technique and style Adams developed to obtain his unique vision, as well as his uneasiness at becoming a commodity. Ansel Adams: A Biography is an intimate and provocative portrait of the world's most famous photographer.

Genres: Biography, Photography, Nonfiction, Art, History

489 pages, Hardcover

First published May 15, 1996

Reviews

[Steve · Rating 3 out of 5]

In college, I took up photography for a while, and was pretty good at it, if I do say so myself. At that time, in 1980, Ansel Adams was a legendary figure, a philosopher of artistic photography and the inventor of the zone system so drilled into us by our instructor at UMSL. I didn't respond to his pictures then, preferring photos with people or buildings to photos of trees and rocks. It took me a long time to see the inspiration and meaning in Adams' extremely familiar work. Now, having read this biography written by the same woman who co-wrote his autobiography (surely a rarity in biography worlds), I'm much more aware of just how extraordinary it was for Adams to develop his artistic sense in a world wherein photography was still barely taken seriously as anything other than documentation. It was fascinating to follow his struggles finding new ways of seeing the outdoors environments he loved so much, and to see him slowly becoming accepted by the growing number of art photographers in the 20s and 30s. Adams' personal life was not as fulfilling as his artistic one - though he remained married to the same woman he first loved seriously for nearly 50 years, most of those years were spent largely apart. Alinder does best telling the stories of Adams' youthful struggles and discoveries, and her narrative skills are reduced to a steady stream of anecdotes once his inspiration deserted him in roughly 1950. The book becomes downright insufferable near the end, when she joins the story as an assistant to Adams in his last years, though there are some intriguing details that only she could tell, such as the story of Clint Eastwood's visit to Adams' home.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Library Biography #28

"History will remember Ansel for three significant contributions: his art; his role in the recognition of photography as a fine art; and his work as an environmental activist."

Now, over 30 years after his death, I don't believe Ansel Adams' name is completely recognizable. I've noticed, typically, when I show people his work, "Ahh, yes." His artwork is well known, but not necessarily his name.

I was very looking forward to reading this book for two reasons - first, my mother had an Ansel Adams print on hanging her wall and told me that my brother loved his work. I was awestruck. Second, with my Library Biography mission - this book was up next. I took my time with this book and it was easy to do, Alinder does not make the chapters so complicated that you need to continue reading.

I was not disappointed.

Alinder writes of AA's life honestly. She does not omit things that may make AA look bad. She keeps the book interesting and enjoyable. The book is also not overly technical on photography terms (it could be). My only critique would be that, especially in the beginning, it was sometimes difficult to keep a timeline. For example, a chapter would end and we would be post-WWII. The next chapter would begin and we would be back pre-WWII times. It seems this was done to highlight specific points of AA's life in detail, rather than drag on with a set timeline. Also, more pictures would have been nice, but it seems the author would have needed more permissions to publish more of AA's work.

Things I learned and appreciated about Ansel Adams: He was part of a large group that was motivated to see photography seen as an art. Together, this group was able to inspire museums to showcase their work. He was an environmentalist and fought for protections for lands - he was not above contacting the president and had met with many presidents. He seemed to have a John Muir feel to him (most of the time). Ansel Adams seemed to believe that he could make people appreciate nature by photographing it, inspiring them to save nature from an ugly demise.

Things that surprised me: Ansel Adams was not one to turn down a job based on principle - he often took jobs for oil companies and even did an ad for a vehicle. He was very bad at dating his pictures and also had a collection of colored photographs that he never wanted printed (but they got published after his death).

One thing that infuriated me: After his death, AA's trustees sold his work to be used as propaganda for tactical weapons.

Worthy read.

[george · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful biography that illustrates all sides of the great artist and environmentalist. The book details AA's efforts to help move photography into the world of fine art. It also explores the general history of photography and discusses the debate over 'straight photography' versus image manipulation - or, artistic expression of vision and imagination. If you are going to read only one book on Ansel Adams, this should be it.

[Lauren Hiebner · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the biography of Ansel Adams by Mary Street Alinder, she says that he most significantly was a “creative photographic messenger.” First he was an artist, also he showed that photography was an art, and thirdly he used his photographs to help promote, protect, and preserve the environment. His one unintended consequence here was that while promoting his photos of Yosemite and other national parks, it brought thousands to see for themselves thus compromising the beauty of the parks. He was an environmental activist leading the Sierra Club for over 30 years and meeting with senators, presidents to promote and conserve the environment. Alinder’s book goes into quite a bit of detail about the process used by Adams to photograph and make prints; from envisioning the shot, to making the shot which often meant hiking and climbing for hours to the right spot, using proper equipment he often had to carry, to washing and examining negatives, and finally making prints. He released only the ones he deemed perfect. He truly was a perfectionist and always preferred black and white prints over color throughout his lifetime. He rarely if ever included people or animals in his photos. He was a true lover of nature, it spoke for itself in his photos. He preferred to live in Yosemite more than anywhere else. His philosophy was that the image must directly reflect the object, that an artist had to visualize before taking the photo, and the photo must communicate emotion. He was at the forefront of promoting photography as art and having it displayed through the 1930s - 1950s. He conducted workshops, was a visiting lecturer at museums, and took on photography projects for both the government and private companies later in life. His photo albums were very successful and his prints increased in value through resales. A great read for any artist.

[Krusher Basta · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy reading biographies and autobiographies, not preferring one over the other. However, what I really love is to read an autobiography, and then read the biography written by the writer that helped write the autobiography. I had this good fortune with Ansel Adams.

Quite often the biography following an autobiography is done posthumously and paints the subject in a different light. Even the most noble of subjects will record their life using various filters that soften if not completely removes the imperfections that make all of us human. However, these flaws can also be sensationalized in a biography in the hope of selling books and achieving commercial success. Neither was a problem with these books.

Mary Street Alinder was Ansel Adams’ chief assistant from 1979 until his death in 1984 but knew him even longer through her husband who also happened to be a photographer. Ansel Adams kept himself extremely busy throughout his entire life; he didn’t believe in vacations. Even in his 70’s and early 80’s he kept a busy schedule with a wide variety of commitments; making prints, exhibiting his prints, giving workshops, and championing the preservation of our nation’s parks and natural resources. Keeping Adams on point for all these many commitments was one of Alinder’s greatest challenges. One of the many tasks they were working on at the time of his death was his autobiography, something that never seemed to be at the top of his priorities. Upon his death the autobiography was not complete. However, there was enough there that Alinder was able to bridge the few remaining gaps and turn over the manuscript in the timeframe Adams had committed to with his publisher.

Ansel Adams certainly did not cast himself as being perfect in his autobiography, although he did not go into his personal or family life in much detail. Alinder went down this road in the biography. This deeper dive into his personal life was based on her direct relationship with Ansel, wife Virginia, and their children, as well as access to decades of correspondence to and from Adams. The biography made it clear that his marriage and family life was far from ideal. Nonetheless, without Virginia’s support Ansel Adams would not be the photographer and man so many of us have all come to admire.

The revised and updated edition (published in 2014) of the biography also sorted through what happened with his foundations, prints and negatives after his death. It even addressed a run-in with a man who thought he found a motherload of lost Ansel Adams negatives in a storage locker auction. I read this biography in 2021 and found it fascinating to learn about Adams’ legacy in the 40 years following his death. Any photography enthusiast would enjoy either the autobiography or biography. As a huge fan of Ansel Adams and his work, I am grateful to be able to read (and re-read) both.

[Gary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exceptional Biographical Portrait

Mary Street Alinder has accomplished what few biographers have been able to do: Write with an objective perspective and point of view despite being an integral daily part of her subject, Ansel Adams’ life. This biography is a finely woven mosaic of all people places and events that either were influential to Adams life and art of photography or the influence he brought to bear on his world whether it be photography, the preservation of the wild and the environment, and the importance of living and experiencing life to the fullest.

A highly nuanced biography that deftly defines Ansel Adams as an artist of unique and creative insight and fortitude, groundbreaking in his approach and reverence to the photographic image as pure art, and tireless teacher, mentor
and advocate for both photography and the environmental/conservation of our planet. Most importantly, Alinder captures and aptly depicts Adams virtues of humanity, respect for all those who came into his sphere of influence, and his humility.

Highly recommend!!

[Dewayne Stark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Almost everything you ever wanted to know about Adams. I have never been a fan of the Sierra Club. Their treatment of the Havasupai Indians and the club's fight to throw them out of their birthplace is a disgrace. Their stopping Mineral King and laying spikes and nails in the desert to stop motorcycles so what a group of idiots they were. Ansel didn't always agree with them. Adams was also supported by Senator Cranston one of the biggest crooks ever to reside in California.

[Jennie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was interesting and detailed, but I struggled to read more than a chapter at a time.

[Phil Della · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was good to learn about the man who made all the famous black and white photos that compelled me to make my own b & w images.

[Leanna · Rating 2 out of 5]

I skimmed much of the book. I wanted to read this to learn more about Ansel and to have an understanding of the time when he was in Yosemite and also to be an “armchair traveler” through his works before actually going to Yosemite myself. Some of his pictures were taken very close to home including one that is only an hour’s drive from my house. The reason I had to skim was that there were way too many details about photography for a point and click gal. I did learn quite a bit from this book about Ansel’s contemporaries like O’Keefe, Stieglitz, Lange, Steichen, Strand (yada, yada, yada) - more than I thought was necessary in a biography. And while I was reading, I searched the web for images of these other artists’ works, so I’ve gotten a casual introduction of photographic art through this book. Sweet.

[Dan Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Certainly a commitment given the length. But I doubt anything short could suffice for such a heroic man of art and environment. The book takes you through Ansel's entire life, including the people that deeply influenced him. What I found most intriguing was the stories of Ansel's techniques and journeys to capture certain moments in photographs. The other amazing aspect of this book is the considerable index, full of gems and treasures for the reader to continue to explore photography and AA's technique.

[Phyllis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this biography even though it was incredibly long. As a photographer, I was interested in the details of his craft, his work ethic and the breadth of his interests aside from photography. I have not read any other biographies of Ansel Adams so I cannot compare it to another. The author seemed to know Ansel well in his senior years and she seemed to be totally supportive of him and his "whims". I think she did a credible job covering his earlier years but I would like to be able to learn more about how he took his masterpieces.

[Diana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting in terms of topic and well researched, but rather difficult to read due to style. Bogged down under somewhat sophomoric prose, a large percentage of it reads like an undergraduate paper, with the author's opinions and impressions conveyed through a number of unnecessary metaphors and conjectures. Not bad, although I'd probably have enjoyed the related "letters" book more.

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you're going to read a biography of Ansel Adams, this is the only one worth considering. The narrative, written by someone close to the artist in his life time, is detailed and passionate without showing judgement or sugar-coating the man or his actions.

[Jamie]

I REALLY enjoyed this book. I read it over a decade ago.