What would you ask Ansel Adams?

If you could pick one famous photographer (living or dead, past or present), and ask them ONE question... who would you pick, and what question would you ask them?

JRG

And if not Asnel Adams... perhaps Ansel Adams (my letters get all mixed before I've had my coffee).

should I shoot in RAW or jpeg?

OK seriously, I'd ask him how he prepares for a photo shoot? What specifically does he look for when composing a shot- subject matter, lighting etc.

This applies to pretty much any of the greats: How do you know your images are special? Or do you feel as worried/nervous/proud/​defensive of them as the rest of us?

tomd wrote in post #10112110
should I shoot in RAW or jpeg?

OK seriously, I'd ask him how he prepares for a photo shop?

Wicked mind makes tricks on letters... I feel ashamed of misreading

I would ask him of hes method for determining the spot where he shoots. It has got to be good imagination and understanding of surroundings to estimate the shotplaces.

I would ask him how he seems to get more zones than an other zone system photographer I've seen. I do know some of it comes from the developer/film combo but theres more and I know he sometimes used split developers when but there is something else. Kinda like that family recipe where grandma left out one thing.

I would ask him if he thought that using chemicals and light to create an image was lazier and less of an application of true art than using brush and oils on canvas. If he said no, second question, would he think less of someone that was able to use light and electrical recording media to produce an image?

Tim Page is my favourite photographer and a damn good author too..

He made his name in Vietnam as a photojournalist and combat photographer..

I'd ask him-- "Did you ever soil your undies?"

tomd wrote in post #10112110
should I shoot in RAW or jpeg?

OK seriously, I'd ask him how he prepares for a photo shoot? What specifically does he look for when composing a shot- subject matter, lighting etc.

Heres some books that could help with some of that. Adams wrote a lot about these very things.

http://www.amazon.com …ks&qid=12729028​45&sr=1-11

More on the technical side
http://www.amazon.com …oks&qid=1272902​880&sr=1-3

http://www.amazon.com …oks&qid=1272902​904&sr=1-4

http://www.amazon.com …oks&qid=1272902​930&sr=1-5

And some quotes

"When I'm ready to make a photograph, I think I quite obviously see in my minds eye something that is not literally there in the true meaning of the word. I'm interested in something which is built up from within, rather than just extracted from without."
Ansel Adams

"To photograph truthfully and effectively is to see beneath the surfaces and record the qualities of nature and humanity which live or are latent in all things."
Ansel Adams

“Simply look with perceptive eyes at the world about you, and trust to your own reactions and convictions. Ask yourself: "Does this subject move me to feel, think and dream? Can I visualize a print - my own personal statement of what I feel and want to convey - from the subject before me?”
Ansel Adams

This one in particular for your question.
“I never know in advance what I will photograph, ... I go out into the world and hope I will come across something that imperatively interests me. I am addicted to the found object. I have no doubt that I will continue to make photographs till my last breath.”
Ansel Adams

Of Robert Capa: Was it staged?

kwb wrote in post #10112667
Of Robert Capa: Was it staged?

Yeah thats big question.

I would ask Hauser why he used the corner the way Penn did and does he think he crossed the line into plagiarizing.

I'd probably pick Walker Evans. A much more compelling photographer than Adams, in my opinion. Adams was a mediocre photographer but an unbelievably talented print maker. I'd love to ask Adams what he thought of the parallels between his manipulation of the printing process to realize his vision of a capture and the modern manipulation of the RAW image in post-processing.

Hamfist wrote in post #10112719
I'd probably pick Walker Evans. A much more compelling photographer than Adams, in my opinion. Adams was a mediocre photographer but an unbelievably talented print maker. I'd love to ask Adams what he thought of the parallels between his manipulation of the printing process to realize his vision of a capture and the modern manipulation of the RAW image in post-processing.

I would disagree with that. If he were so mediocre why has there been hundreds of thousands that have tried to recreate Moonrise Over Hernandez but his is still the visual statement that stands out. I love Evans work and also many of the other FSA photographers but Evans and Adams are truly apples and oranges. I also believe Adams would have articulated a very effective zone system for digital

I think Weston was amazing.

Heres a short interviews of another one of my personal favs. I know its 7 minutes long but stay with it; its a great insight into a great photographers views and he worked for one of Evan's fellow FSA photographers Dorothea Lange.

http://www.youtube.com​/watch?v=NzMQcE2E-1o

airfrogusmc wrote in post #10112764
I would disagree with that. If he were so mediocre why has there been hundreds of thousands that have tried to recreate Moonrise Over Hernandez but his is still the visual statement that stands out. I love Evans work and also many of the other FSA photographers but Evans and Adams are truly apples and oranges. I also believe Adams would have articulated a very effective zone system for digital

I think Weston was amazing.

Heres a short interviews of another one of my personal favs. I know its 7 minutes long but stay with it; its a great insight into a great photographers views and he worked for one of Evan's fellow FSA photographers Dorothea Lange.

http://www.youtube.com​/watch?v=NzMQcE2E-1o

Yeah, I agree that Moonrise is an amazing shot, as well on your opinion on Weston.

I would ask him if he would be my new daddy