"Rocks and Limpets, Point Lobos, California"

gelatin silver print

titled (typed), artist stamp and Siembab Gallery Label on verso

Ansel Adams' most famous works depict monumental landscapes of the American West in dramatic light and with technical perfection. However, in his later years, Adams increasingly turned his attention to the small, often overlooked details of nature. For Rocks and Limpets, he chose a narrow frame with a strong focus on textures. The rugged, organically shaped rocks are contrasted by the round, symmetrical shape of the limpets. Light and shadow are finely graded: the surface of the rocks seems almost tactile, while the round shapes of the limpets form a visual contrast to the irregularity of the rock. Adams' famous Zone System is fully applied here: every tonal range from deep black to light gray is present and contributes to the high plasticity of the image. The work not only represents Adams' deep connection to nature, but also his artistic aspiration to see photography as more than mere documentation.
Point Lobos was a special place for Adams, much like it was for Edward Weston, who also created many of his works there. Both visited and photographed Point Lobos over decades. Originally, Point Lobos was known to the indigenous people as “Isxhenta” and was considered a sacred place that had to be cared for and cherished.
(Christoph Fuchs, translated by deepL)