Ferns, Valley Floor, Yosemite National Park, California after 1945

This silver gelatin print shows a ground-level view of ferns in Yosemite National Park, made by Ansel Adams, a master of black and white photography. Adams used a large format camera and meticulous darkroom techniques. The inherent qualities of this photographic process—the choice of film, the development process, the printing paper—all determine the final image. With his method, Adams coaxed a remarkable tonal range from his materials, from the brightest highlights on the fronds to the deepest shadows in the undergrowth. The photograph also shows Adam's deep engagement with the natural world and with the power and beauty of the American landscape. Though the work may appear 'natural', it is in fact the result of industrial production. The camera, the film, the paper, and the chemicals are all products of manufacture and the labor of others. By understanding how materials, processes, and context intertwine, we can fully appreciate the rich layers of meaning embedded within this seemingly straightforward image.