More About the Image:
Ansel Adams made this photograph circa 1938 on the north shore of Lake Tahoe. Although one of the major landmarks of the Sierra, the lake was a subject Ansel would not photograph frequently. This image was made on the cusp of his ‘operatic’ stage, during which time Ansel’s photographs developed properties that included ‘a panoramic perspective with emphasis on a distant landscape, an omniscient viewpoint, the inclusion of dramatic light and weather effects, and a balanced inclusion of a wide range of gray tones.’ (Map Pg.200) The thundercloud overhead seems to be moving with a great force, its florets swelling and its deep tones foretelling of a storm brewing. But what at first seems threatening becomes awesome as the anatomy of the cumulonimbus takes on a sculptural quality. In his interpretation of clouds, Ansel would poetically write, ‘they are the cool voices of the sky and wind’ (LAA pg.34) and that when they ‘appear, the skies and the cloud-shadows [. . .] bring everything to life; shapes and planes appear that were hitherto unseen.’ (E pg.67) One year before this photograph was made, Ansel wrote to his good friend Cedric Wright on June 10th, 1937 and stated, perhaps prophetically, ‘A strange thing happened to me today. I saw a big thundercloud move down over Half Dome, and it was so big and clear and brilliant that it made me see many things that were drifting around inside of me; things that related to those who are loved and those who are real friends. For the first time I know what love is; what friends are; and what art should be [. . .] I wish the thundercloud had move up over Tahoe and let loose on you; I could wish you nothing finer.’ (L pg.98)
