Moon and Half Dome

fingerz · 26-01-2006, 17:12

I've never really understood what the wow factor is of this shot. And given that it's one of the most famous photos from one of the most famous photographers, I probably ought to know.

So what's so good about it?

http://facstaffwebs.umes.edu/bphudso...mHalf-Dome.jpg

mrgubby · 26-01-2006, 17:27

Completely misses me as well

, will have to go and read up on it .

Steep · 26-01-2006, 18:23

You need to see a proper print for a start, that copy is truly dreadful.

The story behind the taking of the image as far as I can remember is this, Ansell Adams was trekking through yosemeti in winter looking for photographs. He had with him 12 (I think) 12" x 10" glass plate negatives and had used all but one of them when he came on that view. He set up the big wooden box camera and did what he did best, captured one of his most famous images using the only plate he had left. His 'Zone System'* for gauging exposure times is what enable him to capture the whole range of tones from black to pure white without any part of the image being blown out.

Personally though my favourite AA image is "Mount McKinley and Wonder Lake"

*I'd need to go and look at the book to see if he was calling it that then, or wether he was still developing the idea.

stevec · 26-01-2006, 20:37

Have to go with steep on this one this print looks like i printed it the original is magic

Warspite · 26-01-2006, 20:52

For the little I know about this, that copy above shows nothing of the detail in the original shot.

See this for a much improved though smaller version.

HERE

Venomator · 26-01-2006, 20:59

Well - given the gear & materials used I think it is absolutely stunning !

S*d it - even without considering the gear and materials used it IS absolutely stunning !

Does it for me anyway !

Steep · 27-01-2006, 17:36

Here's a sample of my favourite. I have a 13x9" print of it on the wall, lit from above it springs to life and is just stunning.

http://www.anseladams.com/on/demandw...tandardCatalog

***Dave*** · 27-01-2006, 18:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Venomator

Well - given the gear & materials used I think it is absolutely stunning !

S*d it - even without considering the gear and materials used it IS absolutely stunning !

Does it for me anyway !

Now that is a big difference with the detail. Beautiful shot.

fingerz · 27-01-2006, 19:24

I hadn't thought about the difficulty involved in getting detail on the ground while stopping the moon from being blown. Having that pointed out to me does increase my respect for the shot.

However...

That's because I'm a photographer (no jokes please

) and I know about exposure etc. Your average Joe Public type chap isn't going to think "wow, the shadows have detail but the moon isn't blown out." He's just going to look at it and think it's a picture of a moon over a bit of rock. No repetition of form or particulalrly noticable symmetry/reflections/etc.

Steep · 27-01-2006, 20:11

Again, I can only say you need to see the original ( or at leat a proper print ) you can't judge properly unless.

The only way you'll get to see a decent print is to buy it or go to a gallery/shop where one can be bought. The Adams trust/gallery whatever is very very protective of his work and you won't find a good sized good quality print online.

Gandhi · 28-01-2006, 01:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by fingerz

I hadn't thought about the difficulty involved in getting detail on the ground while stopping the moon from being blown. Having that pointed out to me does increase my respect for the shot.

However...

That's because I'm a photographer (no jokes please

) and I know about exposure etc. Your average Joe Public type chap isn't going to think "wow, the shadows have detail but the moon isn't blown out." He's just going to look at it and think it's a picture of a moon over a bit of rock. No repetition of form or particulalrly noticable symmetry/reflections/etc.

Ok, but your not allowing for the fact that you are looking at the image form an objective point of view. The reason this is such a popular image is it LOOKS GOOD People don't always popularise an image on it's artistic competence. If it looks good, people will buy it, depending on current trends in popular art. As an example, if you go to Ikea or any other shop that sells mass produced prints, what you find the most of is simply a reflection of the populaces current consensus of opinion.

Nothing else beyond that. Fundamentaly, it's pleasing to the eye, it stirs emotions in people, some images do it, some don't.

That's what makes it a succesful image. Along with all ther Ansel Adams Hype of course

Gandhi · 28-01-2006, 01:59

P.s

Thanks for posing a question that has actually stimulated some intelligent discourse!

fingerz · 30-01-2006, 00:17

Cheers

I'll try to see an original print at some point, if I can.

But there are loads of photos that still have impact even when viewed at very low resolution on the internet. The guy standing in front of the tank in Tianenmen Square, Those guys eating lunch on a girder on a half-built skyscraper way above new york... The list goes on. The photo is good regardless of how you see it. With Moon and Half Dome it seems you have to see the original to fully appreciate it, which limits the audience appreciation.

But I guess it's the same with some paintings.

**stepheno** · 30-01-2006, 07:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by fingerz

...Those guys eating lunch on a girder on a half-built skyscraper way above new york...

I have read somewhere, sometime that,that shot is a fake. However, not to take the thread away from AA - I can see where the praise is coming from, with the Moon and Half Dome, but I tend to agree that the proletariat will not see it that way.

regards

Steep · 30-01-2006, 09:51

We also have to remember that the image was taken at a time when computers didn't exist, it was always meant to be seen in the flesh as it were, on paper, having been manually developed and printed to show it at it's best. What AA wanted to do (I think) was express light, that's why he always strove to capture the full tonal range and why he went to such pains at each stage of the process from shutter click to final print.

fingerz · 30-01-2006, 11:22

Actually, I meant to ask what the 'zone system' actually is.

So what is it?

Spose I ought to do a Google really. Will have a look now.

fingerz · 30-01-2006, 11:50

Read some descriptions. Seems to be fairly irrelevant to anyone who brackets their exposures which, in the DSLR world we now live in, ought to be most people.

26-01-2006, 17:12	#1 (permalink)
fingerz Forum Regular Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 790	Moon and Half Dome I've never really understood what the wow factor is of this shot. And given that it's one of the most famous photos from one of the most famous photographers, I probably ought to know. So what's so good about it? http://facstaffwebs.umes.edu/bphudso...mHalf-Dome.jpg

26-01-2006, 18:23	#3 (permalink)
Steep Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Inverness Posts: 964	You need to see a proper print for a start, that copy is truly dreadful. The story behind the taking of the image as far as I can remember is this, Ansell Adams was trekking through yosemeti in winter looking for photographs. He had with him 12 (I think) 12" x 10" glass plate negatives and had used all but one of them when he came on that view. He set up the big wooden box camera and did what he did best, captured one of his most famous images using the only plate he had left. His 'Zone System'* for gauging exposure times is what enable him to capture the whole range of tones from black to pure white without any part of the image being blown out. Personally though my favourite AA image is "Mount McKinley and Wonder Lake" *I'd need to go and look at the book to see if he was calling it that then, or wether he was still developing the idea. __________________ www.airattack.co.uk

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to T

26-01-2006, 17:27	#2 (permalink)
mrgubby Been here a while Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Hertfordshire Posts: 328	Completely misses me as well , will have to go and read up on it .

26-01-2006, 20:37	#4 (permalink)
stevec Getting Comfy Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: bradford west yorkshire Posts: 242	Have to go with steep on this one this print looks like i printed it the original is magic

26-01-2006, 20:52	#5 (permalink)
Warspite Feet under the table Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Newcastle Sunderland Middlesbrough (UK) Posts: 1,736	For the little I know about this, that copy above shows nothing of the detail in the original shot. See this for a much improved though smaller version. HERE

26-01-2006, 20:59	#6 (permalink)
Venomator Forum Regular Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Hertfordshire Posts: 922	Well - given the gear & materials used I think it is absolutely stunning ! S*d it - even without considering the gear and materials used it IS absolutely stunning ! Does it for me anyway !

27-01-2006, 17:36	#7 (permalink)
Steep Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Inverness Posts: 964	Here's a sample of my favourite. I have a 13x9" print of it on the wall, lit from above it springs to life and is just stunning. http://www.anseladams.com/on/demandw...tandardCatalog

27-01-2006, 19:24	#9 (permalink)
fingerz Forum Regular Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 790	I hadn't thought about the difficulty involved in getting detail on the ground while stopping the moon from being blown. Having that pointed out to me does increase my respect for the shot. However... That's because I'm a photographer (no jokes please ) and I know about exposure etc. Your average Joe Public type chap isn't going to think "wow, the shadows have detail but the moon isn't blown out." He's just going to look at it and think it's a picture of a moon over a bit of rock. No repetition of form or particulalrly noticable symmetry/reflections/etc.

27-01-2006, 20:11	#10 (permalink)
Steep Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Inverness Posts: 964	Again, I can only say you need to see the original ( or at leat a proper print ) you can't judge properly unless. The only way you'll get to see a decent print is to buy it or go to a gallery/shop where one can be bought. The Adams trust/gallery whatever is very very protective of his work and you won't find a good sized good quality print online.

28-01-2006, 01:59	#12 (permalink)
Gandhi Forum Regular Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: bath, somerserset Posts: 966	P.s Thanks for posing a question that has actually stimulated some intelligent discourse!

30-01-2006, 00:17	#13 (permalink)
fingerz Forum Regular Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 790	Cheers I'll try to see an original print at some point, if I can. But there are loads of photos that still have impact even when viewed at very low resolution on the internet. The guy standing in front of the tank in Tianenmen Square, Those guys eating lunch on a girder on a half-built skyscraper way above new york... The list goes on. The photo is good regardless of how you see it. With Moon and Half Dome it seems you have to see the original to fully appreciate it, which limits the audience appreciation. But I guess it's the same with some paintings.

30-01-2006, 09:51	#15 (permalink)
Steep Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Inverness Posts: 964	We also have to remember that the image was taken at a time when computers didn't exist, it was always meant to be seen in the flesh as it were, on paper, having been manually developed and printed to show it at it's best. What AA wanted to do (I think) was express light, that's why he always strove to capture the full tonal range and why he went to such pains at each stage of the process from shutter click to final print.

30-01-2006, 11:22	#16 (permalink)
fingerz Forum Regular Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 790	Actually, I meant to ask what the 'zone system' actually is. So what is it? Spose I ought to do a Google really. Will have a look now.

30-01-2006, 11:50	#17 (permalink)
fingerz Forum Regular Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 790	Read some descriptions. Seems to be fairly irrelevant to anyone who brackets their exposures which, in the DSLR world we now live in, ought to be most people.