See how professional photographers have interpreted Yosemite National Park’s attractions in the artworks at Ansel Adams Gallery in Yosemite Village. Get inspiration to create your own photo book. Consider going on a camera walk led by gallery staff members who are also avid photographers. Their advice on how to set your camera for the surroundings’ unique light as it changes through the day can help you get the perfect shot. View the gallery’s permanent Ansel Adams collection as well as exhibits of contemporary photographers, with new displays rotating roughly every six weeks.
Learn about the history of the studio. The family-run business began operation in a tent in 1902 after its founder Harry Best, a landscape painter and political cartoonist from San Francisco, visited the area. He met his wife, Anne Rippey, when she was a photography assistant at a local studio. Originally, the business was called Best’s Studio, featuring paintings from his own brush as well as compositions from other family members. Some of his work has hung in the White House.
When Adams came to Yosemite, he began as a caretaker at a lodge in the valley. His interest in photography made him a frequent visitor to the studio, although he had planned to become a pianist. His photography skills grew and later he married Best’s daughter, Virginia, who inherited the studio. It wasn’t until 1971 when their son Michael took over the business that the name changed to its current one.
Participate in one of the photography workshops that first began in 1940 with Ansel Adams as an instructor. The program is one of the oldest of its type in the country.
As well as being a photographer, Adams was also a dedicated conservationist. Visit the company’s website, which stresses the importance of observing the valley’s fragility by staying on trails and walking rather than driving. This theme of conservation and respect for nature is carried throughout the Ansel Adams Gallery. It is open every day except Christmas.
Find the gallery in Yosemite Village between the post office and the Yosemite Valley Visitor Center.
