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Ansel Adams - A Documentary FilmRating:
Release Date: 14 January, 2003 Retail Price: $19.98 Sorry, this product is not currently available. Cast: |
Ansel Adams - A Documentary Film Reviews
A horrible requiem
Stay away from this DVD. This DVD is a long somber story with constant dramatic violins humming in the background. It is the perfect tone for a warmovie but not for a documentary on Ansel Adams. Adams himself isn't really present in this film (he has about three lines of text), although there is enough footage available. Adams was a still photographer but don't expect any still photo's. Al his images are zoomed in and out and panned up and down and left and right.
If you want to see a artist at work and the work he made you better buy the DVD Art Wright made with a simpel 16mm camera about Brett Weston.
Brilliant biography of Adams
I purchased this as a birthday gift for my wife, who has recently picked up photography as a hobby. We both feel like we've spent 90 minutes in the presence of a brilliant, fascinating, passionate visionary. We are amazed at his life and work. In short, this documentary does what any good, short documentary should do: It makes you want to know Adams and his work better.
PROS:
* Nice biography of Adams' life, highlighting the role his father played in facilitating Ansel's self-directed learning as a youth, his introduction to photography, his marriage (with its ups and downs), etc. We were able to see what drove Ansel Adams.
* Need I say anything about his work? There has never been and never will be another photographer like Adams. This documentary just makes me want to sit in front of his photos for hours!
* Insights into how his photography and extensive time in the wilderness shaped his philosophy/worldview.
* Insights into how he exposed and developed photographs to reveal what he saw as he took the pictures--his embrace of realism.
CONS:
* The television screen is not an ideal place to view Adams' photos. Ric Burns did a great job of panning and zooming to allow us to experience Adams' work, but if you're really interested in Adams, you need to buy some of his prints or a coffee table book or find a museum with a collection of Adams photos. This is not Ric Burns fault--he did an amazing job telling this story.
PURCHASING RECOMMENDATION:
If you are interested in Ansel Adams, photography, or even just interested in art and the creative process, this is an excellent film. Highly recommended.
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