Photography by John Corney

Ansel Adams is perhaps the most well-known of all the American landscape photographers, known particularly for his photographs of California's Yosemite Valley. Born February 20, 1902, Adams first became interested in Yosemite when he was given the book "In the Heart of the Sierras" by James Hutchings by an aunt when he was once sick as a child. Subsequent to reading the book, the young Adams persuaded his family to take him to Yosemite Valley, and on the trip he was given a camera. So started his interest and career in photographing Yosemite that would ultimately make him one of the icons of American landscape photography.

At 17, Adams joined the Sierra Club, starting a life-long affiliation with the environmental organization, of which he at one time served as Director. His work as an environmentalist, author, and photographer of the wilds of California were instrumental in advancing the cause of environmentalism and in the creation of Sequoia and King's Canyon National Parks.
Adams did not restrict his photography only to the landscape of California. He was particularly disturbed by the incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II, and was given permission to visit the Manzanar War Relocation Center to photograph it's internees. Subsequently he published a photo essay that appeared in a Museum of Modern Art exhibition, and which was subsequently published as "Born Free and Equal".

Adams died April 22, 1984.