Ansel Adams

From Taking to Making: The Craft of Photography

Consequently, craft is cultivated through habits: scout and sketch compositions; study light at different hours; bracket with intention rather than fear; keep contact sheets or digital selects that reveal patterns; and sequence images into coherent bodies of work. Rehearse the final print in your mind, then let each choice serve that vision. As Adams’s performance metaphor suggests, making a photograph is less a single act than a practiced score—composed in the field, refined in the print, and completed in the viewer’s eye. [...]

Embracing Life as a Journey of Exploration

Ultimately, viewing life as an ongoing exploration encourages a stance of openness and curiosity throughout our years. Adams suggests that wisdom is not a static destination, but a continuous process of inquiry. By embracing every experience, we not only gather knowledge but cultivate adaptability and resilience, navigating life’s uncertainties with the heart of an explorer. [...]