Moon and Half Dome, Yosemite National Park, California (From Large Museum Set)

Print Notes

Ansel Adams made this image at 4:14 the afternoon of December 28, 1960 with a Hasselblad camera and 250mm Zeiss Sonnar lens, releasing the mirror before operating the shutter to minimize vibration. It was one of his last well known photographs. Arguably, this is the definitive photograph of Half Dome and among the most famous images of Yosemite National Park.

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Description

Ansel Adams
1902-1984
1960 | Printed c. 1980
Gelatin silver print
Image Size: 19 1/4 x 14 1/8 inches
Frame Size: 31 x 26 1/4 inches
Location: AAP ~ Unique ID 275

Provenance

Acquired from Anne Adams Helms, 2016.

Literature

Cover of "Classic Images"; "Yosemite and the Range of Light"; Yosemite and the High Sierra"; "Examples: The Making of 40 Photographs" and "Our National Parks."

Print Notes

Ansel Adams made this image at 4:14 the afternoon of December 28, 1960 with a Hasselblad camera and 250mm Zeiss Sonnar lens, releasing the mirror before operating the shutter to minimize vibration. It was one of his last well known photographs. Arguably, this is the definitive photograph of Half Dome and among the most famous images of Yosemite National Park . Belying its later worldwide acclaim, "Moon and Half Dome" debuted for a very personal audience: the first publication of this masterpiece was as the wedding announcement for Adams ' son, Michael, and his daughter-in-law, Jeanne in 1962. In "Examples: The Making of 40 Photographs," Adams recalls making "Moon and Half Dome:" "As soon as I saw the moon coming up by Half Dome I had visualized the image. …I have photographed Half Dome innumerable times, but it is never the same Half Dome, never the same light or the same mood. …Half Dome is a great mountain with endless variations of lighting and sky situations and seasonal characteristics; the many images I have made reflect my varied creative responses to this remarkable granite monolith.