Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2005/04/04
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Don't sit on it next time, Walt!:-) And I wouldn't argue with you for a minute when you say that one Ansel is worth 27 Maplethorpes. My complaint about Adams has nothing to do with his contribution as an environmentalist - seminal; his contribution as a photo technician - seminal; or his writings: I just don't like his photography. And it has nothing to do with all the derivative crap out there; it just doesn't do anything for me - particularly as I know that the end result looks virtually nothing like his negatives. Okay, so he was a master printer. But we've all got our likes and dislikes. And if you like Ansel, you've got allot more people on your side than I do on mine - I'd be willing to be that the number of people who have even heard Eugene Smith's name pales by comparison to the number of people who actually own some form of image - book, print, poster, calendar, coffee mug, Frisbee - by Ansel Adams. :-) Best B. D. -----Original Message----- From: lug-bounces+bdcolen=earthlink.net@leica-users.org [mailto:lug-bounces+bdcolen=earthlink.net@leica-users.org] On Behalf Of Walt Johnson Sent: Monday, April 04, 2005 7:26 PM To: Lugmail Subject: [Leica] Is B.D. all wet again? Can't help it B.D., been dwelling on a comment you made a while back. Was gonna let it slide (sometimes it best to keep trap shut) but must respond. You mentioned how boring the Ansel Adams genre was. I railed. I chomped at the bit. I had steam coming out my ears. I kept my mouth shut. Sorry, but it's of no avail. Ansel was a man who set trends, not followed them. Sure, there are lots of look -alikes out there today. 'I'm sure we could uncover a lot of Gene Smith clones too. Hey, every time I turn around there are folks emulating Robert Frank, William Klein and Mary Ellen Mark. One thing is certain though, Ansel was an original. Sure, some of his writing was a bit pedantic but he was an original. Artist, environmentalist, and humanitarian. I help to hang one of his shows in 1969 and was very sad not to be able to have $75 dollars to buy a signed "Moonrise over Hernandez". (that was with the student discount) One Ansel is worth about 27 Maplethorpes. (sp) Hell, haven't used anything other than a Nikon, Leica, or RB since school days but if I wanted to know the ins and outies of a view cam I'd certainly look to Ansel's writings. Walt _______________________________________________ Leica Users Group. See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information