How did a teenager from San Francisco become America’s leading landscape photographer? That’s one of the questions presented in Discovering Ansel Adams (March 6 to August 2, 2026), an exhibition of photographs, documents, and personal artifacts that offer a window into the formative years of Adams’ career.
The Baker Museum presentation begins with Adams’ first photographs of Yosemite, taken when he was a 14-year-old tourist, and takes us into his later years as a professional when he refined his ability to depict the natural wonders that captivated him.
The experiences of these years helped Adams establish the visual language that defined him an artist and cemented his role as an advocate for landscapes in the United States. Adams’ photographs, technical innovations, and artistic choices offer a compelling look at how he transformed his passion into a lifelong mission to capture and protect the natural world.
“While many people are familiar with Adams’ iconic black-and-white landscapes, this exhibition offers a deeper and more personal look at his artistic journey,” says curator Dianne Brás-Feliciano. “This behind-the-scenes insight adds new layers of meaning to the celebrated images audiences think they already know.”
Story Credits:
Text by Florian Jouin
Photo courtesy of The Baker Museum
Facebook Comments