Frozen Lake and Cliffs, the Sierra Nevada, Sequoia National Park, California Possibly 1932 - 1980

This photograph of a frozen lake and cliffs in the Sierra Nevada, by Ansel Adams, is a reminder that process isn’t just for painters. Look at how he coaxes a whole range of tones out of black and white film. It's really something. The rock face is a marvel, almost like a geological speed trial caught on film. The light isn't just captured; it's constructed, shaped, and coaxed into existence. Adams clearly loves texture. The grain of the rock, the subtle gradations in the snow, and even the almost velvety sheen of the frozen lake, each area is meticulously rendered. There’s a tension between the sharp detail and a kind of overall atmospheric blur. The mountain looms, but it's not scary. I see echoes of someone like Gerhard Richter, another artist obsessed with the possibilities and limitations of photography. Both are invested in the strange alchemy of transforming reality into an image. Art isn't about answers, but about exploring the endless possibilities of seeing.