Monolith, the Face of Half Dome, Yosemite National Park, California Possibly 1927 - 1980

Ansel Adams made this photograph, *Monolith, the Face of Half Dome, Yosemite National Park, California,* using a large format camera to capture the massive scale of the landscape. Look at the way he plays with light and shadow. The rock face is deeply textured, almost like a painting, with streaks of light and dark emphasizing its verticality. The snow-covered areas contrast sharply with the dark rock, creating a dynamic push and pull. You can almost feel the cold, crisp air and the monumental weight of the stone. I’m drawn to the way the light catches the edges of the rock, highlighting the rough, uneven surface. It reminds me of the way Cy Twombly would build up layers of paint, creating a sense of depth and texture through simple, repetitive marks. Ultimately, this piece offers a meditation on the sublime power of nature, and the way that photography can capture its grandeur.