More About the Image:
Radiating with luminosity, in spite of the fact it was taken in open shade, this image resonates with the authority of The Zone System. The subtle but broad textural and hue variances in the sandstone formations become pronounced and three-dimensional via Ansel's choices in the field and darkroom. Such characteristics put the viewer right in the middle of the scene as our senses become stimulated by how real and tactile a photograph can be. Tucked in the corner of the scene, the titular Antelope House ruin is dominated by the wispy designs of the ancient rock. Beaumont and Nancy Newhall wrote of this image that it induces a 'sudden meditation on man's littleness and briefness compared to this earth he inhabits.' This image was included in Ansel’s Portfolio 6, published in 1974.
So wrote Ansel Adams, whose photographs of the varied and rugged landscapes of the region have imprinted upon the imaginations of millions around the world. Beyond Yosemite and the High Sierra, the Southwest was one of Ansel’s best-loved regions of the country.In fact, it was a trip to Taos, New Mexico in the 1930s that led Ansel to cross paths with photographer Paul Strand, who helped inspire him to make photography his life’s work. The rest, as they say, is history.
