I was recently advised by my tutor to explore how different photographers capture similar scenes, particularly comparing Ansel Adams’ iconic shots of Yosemite with the work of Stephen Shore.
Ansel Adams needs no introduction; his images of Yosemite, and his contributions to photography as a whole, are legendary. His striking black-and-white landscapes have become synonymous with the grandeur of nature.
Stephen Shore, however, was a new name to me. A quick search revealed the following from his Wikipedia entry:
“Stephen Shore (born October 8, 1947) is an American photographer known for his images of banal scenes and objects in the United States, and for his pioneering use of color in art photography. In 2010, Shore received an Honorary Fellowship from The Royal Photographic Society.”
I plan to dive deeper into his work in the future.
Aside from the obvious differences in time frame—Adams’ images were made in the 1930s, while Shore’s work dates from the late 1970s—and Shore’s use of color versus Adams’ black-and-white approach, there are significant contrasts in how they photograph similar subjects. Most notably, Adams’ images of Yosemite present the wilderness in its purest, untouched form, while Shore’s photographs offer a gentler, more approachable view.
In Shore’s image, there’s a sense of family and leisure, something you wouldn’t expect in an Adams photograph. In Adams’ image, you’d expect a well-prepared hiker or climber to enter the frame, but in Shore’s, it feels more inviting—I could imagine stepping into the scene, grabbing a ball, and joining the family fun.
Adams’ focus is on the sweeping tones and the grandeur of the landscape, creating an image that projects the idea of the “last frontier.” Shore, on the other hand, presents Yosemite as a family destination, stripping it of its wild, untamed aura.
The differences are so pronounced that it’s impossible to choose a favorite between the two, as they each convey vastly different perspectives. Oddly enough, I find myself drawn to Shore’s image, as it reminds me of childhood holidays—though I must admit, Bournemouth never looked that exotic!
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