Ansel Adams Negatives Undergoing Authentication

<p>I got to cover a story on some of Ansel Adams negatives that are in there final stage of authentication. It was a very cool story to shoot. About 60 negatives were found in a garage sale.<br>

<a href=" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2450/4017432157_1b300776eb.jpg" alt="FlickrAnselNeg" width="500" height="362" /></a><br>

Story link: <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.businessstreetonline.com/news.php?ax=v&n=1&id=2&nid=1627">www.businessstreetonline.com/news.php?ax=v&n=1&id...</a><br>

Video links: <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.businessstreetonline.com/movies/AnselAdamsNegs.mov">www.businessstreetonline.com/movies/AnselAdamsNegs.mov</a><br>

<a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.businessstreetonline.com/movies/AnselAdamsNegs.wmv">www.businessstreetonline.com/movies/AnselAdamsNegs.wmv</a></p>

<p>Interesting story-- congratulations on getting to cover it. </p>

<p>Having said that, do you have any reservations about the resurrecting of these negatives? They were in an envelope in a garage for a reason-- these are presumably Adams's castoffs or seconds, and he never meant for them to be printed or exhibited.</p>

<p>My personal feelings, is that this is history and history is worth preserving. To me they are a partial piece in a symphony, a collection of notes. The final print is the was the completed symphony. Just a sketches from Leonardo da Vinci are not the complete work. They still have significant value to society.</p>

<p>Good points.</p>

<p>I completely agree with Ralph. </p>

<p>I have to agree Ralph - whether or not Ansel meant for them to be seen or not, they are a piece of history. If he *really* didnt want them to be seen - he could have destroyed them.</p>

<p>Fascinating, Ralph! Thanks for sharing. I'm dyin' to see the images. I really wasn't aware that Adams worked with glass plates, but it makes sense, given his time period. I would rather see the images not being handled under florescent lights though.</p>

<p>I'd really like to know how they got in a garage sale 70 years after they were made. Stolen....snagged from Ansels trash....loaned out and never returned..... I've printed glass plates from that era and older, they should make fantastic photos.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>Ralph,<br>

What an opportunity. What a find.<br>

Ansel wrote in his books the negative is the score, the print is the performance.<br>

Thanks for sharing with us.<br>

Keep Eager.<br>

JH</p>

 

<p>Great story! After my father died, my mother sent me up to the attic of their old house to see what was up there. I found a little wooden crate with a bunch of 4x5 glass plate negs, and some plastic ones as well. I also found his two cameras – a Century 4x5 which still works, and a Kodak 1a junior, which produced the plastic negs. Most of the pictures are from WW1, when he was stationed in Switzerland. I want to scan them, but my present scanner can't scan negs, plus I need higher resolution. Does anyone have experience with the new Epson V700? I've heard they are really good, but don't know for sure.</p>