February 20th | Ansel Adams: The Man Behind the Camera
The Wildling Museum of Art and Nature is pleased to announce a special virtual program in honor of Ansel Adams on what would have been the iconic photographer’s 120th birthday. The public is invited to tune in to Ansel Adams: The Man Behind the Camera on Sunday, February 20, 2 – 3 p.m. via Zoom for an insightful presentation by photographer Alan Ross, Ansel Adams’ friend and former assistant. The two photographers are currently featured in the Wildling Museum’s exhibition Sharing the Light: Ansel Adams & Alan Ross, on view through March 20, 2022.
While Ansel Adams’ striking images and exacting technique have been well documented over the years, what is less shared is a view of the man behind the camera. This presentation will reveal more about who Ansel Adams was as a person, how he worked, what motivated him to expose film to light, and his magical and sometimes irreverent sense of humor.
Adams’ long-time assistant and internationally recognized photographer, Alan Ross, will paint a picture of the legendary artist as only someone who worked side-by-side with him can. Using his own personal photographs of Adams working in the field, in the darkroom and at home, personal notes and letters from master to apprentice, anecdotes, and recollections from his nearly six years as Adams’ full-time photographic assistant, Ross will share his experiences of the artist, mentor, and friend.
“It’s always exciting for me to share a little bit of the Ansel I knew and worked with… the man behind the lens, the educator, activist, comedian, mentor, and friend,” says Ross. “I have no doubt that if he was still here with us, a grand party would be in the works to celebrate his 120th trip around the sun. In his absence, I’ll enjoy celebrating him by sharing my stories and memories."
The suggested donation for this virtual event is $5.00, click here to donate what you wish. To register to attend this event, click here to sign up on Zoom. This event will be recorded.
Please email info@wildlingmuseum.org or call (805) 686-8315 with any questions. This program is offered in conjunction with the Wildling Museum’s current exhibition, Sharing the Light: Ansel Adams & Alan Ross. Click here to learn more about the exhibition.
The Wildling Museum’s ongoing Zoom programming is sponsored by Montecito Bank & Trust.
Ross (left) with Adams (right) at Point Lobos, CA during a 'Friends of Photography' workshop, July 1977, Photo by Michael Reidlinger, Courtesy Alan Ross.
About Alan Ross
Alan Ross (b. 1948) is a renowned photographer whose unique vision combines traditional photographic methods with today’s technology. Ross is best known for his tonally exquisite black-and-white photographs of the American West. He worked side-by-side with Ansel Adams as his photographic assistant, and was personally selected by Adams to print his Yosemite Special Edition negatives, a role he has maintained since 1975. Alan lives and works in Santa Fe, New Mexico where he pursues his own photography, teaches one-on-one workshops in the art of seeing and master printing, and writes articles and blogs sharing his vast knowledge of the art and craft of photography.
Ross’s works are included in the permanent collections of Hunter Museum of Art, Chattanooga, TN; Yale University Art Gallery, New Haven, CT; Center for Creative Photography, Tucson, AZ; San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, San Francisco, CA; University of Michigan Museum of Art, Ann Arbor, MI; Princeton University Art Museum, Princeton, NJ; Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, TX; Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, Kalamazoo, MI; Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, Santa Fe, NM; and numerous other public and private collections around the world.