# 3689-91 ~ because the individual is different

August 10, 2020

ThIS WEEKEND PAST I WAS RE-VISITING THE BOOK, ANSEL ADAMS ~IN COLOR. The pictures in the book were curated / chosen by Harry Callahan. Callahan's methodology for making his selections-from nearly 3,000 transparencies-was simple enough ... he stated that he "chose what looks good" and "selected those things that pleased me."

In any event, Adams might be spinning in his grave like a high-speed drill press inasmuch as some of Callahan's selections display evidence of the limitations, tonal range wise, of transparency film. Which is to write, some blown highlights and many blocked-up shadows. That written, those pictures which were not pushing those boundaries, are quite good. In fact, were I to invest in one Adams' print to adorn one of my walls, it would be one of his color pictures.

There are a handful of Adams quotes in the book that are worth publishing here on my blog. However, in the meantime, while reading the text in the Adams book, I remebered this spot-on quote from Harry Callahan....

"The photographs that excite me are photographs that say something in a new manner; not for the sake of being different, but ones that are different because the individual is different and the individual expresses himself. I realize that we all do express ourselves, but those who express that which is always being done are those whose thinking is almost in every way in accord with everyone else. Expression on this basis has become dull to those who wish to think for themselves." ~ Harry Callahan