From Ansel Adams's Little-known El Cajon Series

Compare: "Monolith, the Face of Half Dome." The scale's a little different here, though: this is

a seven-foot boulder.

Your portfolio is extensive and interesting. This one, with the title confuses me just a little. The image is technically precise and while lacking in a strong focal point none the less interesting. It is the title that tosses me a curve.

i'll leave it to you to offer any explanation that others might need...me? I think it's funny as hell!

Check out Adams's photo, "Monolith, the face of Half-Dome," and see if there isn't a resemblance. The reference to El Cajon is because that's where this image was taken, and El Cajon (a bedroom community east of San Diego) is assuredly a place not known for its scenery. But if you stand in just the right place by this boulder . . . you find yourself channeling Adams. Hence the title.

Thank you. I was hoping someone would get it. Most of my efforts at humor on this site have fallen way flat.

You may have already had the concept in mind Barry...but this is ripe for a whole series. You might end up doing your own "mockumentary"! :)

This just happened by accident this morning, but yes, that's a great idea! I was actually walking along thinking about a photo assignment my daughter has, which is to come up with visual puns, so when I saw this rock and started playing with it in my viewfinder, and suddenly recognized Adams's iconic image, well, I just had to take it.

Hi, I was scrolling through the recent listings after putting up my first one up for critique when your's caught my attention. Nicely done, been through the adams experience as a youth. Rick

Thanks for the comment. I'd thought my Adams days were long behind me, but apparently not.

The texture and contrast works perfectly.The B&W format and lighting is a pluse..

I think it's one of the joys of teaching beginners that it gives you cause to revisit your "Adams days" and your "Bill Brandt days" and even your "lonesome tree days" - and there's always the potential for a new take on it.

 

Weathered stone has a special power from the time scale involved in its getting there and this picks up the texture and the awe nicely.

 

Best wishes, Jonathan

I'm hoping to get out this weekend and do some more work around these boulders. There's a particularly good patch about four miles from my house. The county where I live is strewn with them, and I've long been intrigued with them visually. I tried photographing them with a medium format camera and t-max a number of years ago, but didn't get what I had in my mind's eye. This image is closer -- perhaps because Photoshop B&W conversion is a better printer than I am.

I think it funny to. I also like the effect of the people who don't. I checked out Adams photo you made a good link. 7/7

It's been almost a year and a half since I first saw this wonderful photograph...and my reaction tonight was the same as the first time. I sat here laughing my ass off! Totally cracks me up... But looking back at my 6/7 rating...I'm wondering why the hell I didn't go all the way with a 7/7 ??? Perhaps it was out of respect for Ansel.... who I have no doubt, would be laughing his ass off as well if he were only still among us :( Barry...you're going to have to get off your ass, quit shooting breasts and get on with what surely must be your calling in life...(breasts are my calling)...and finish this series!!! best regards...jg

Thanks for coming back, and thanks for giving me a good kick in the behind. My photo work has been getting a bit dull lately (not only haven't I posted anything here in months; I haven't printed anything for myself, either -- I just don't seem to be taking anything interesting). It may well be time to load the pack mule up with Starbucks and strike out for the not-so-wilds.

Fresno. That's the answer. Creative juices flow. Come to Fresno. BTW We have breasts but no boulders. ☺

Which gets us back to Ted Orland and his Photographic Truths ("A good photograph cannot be taken in Fresno"). Sounds like a challenge to me.

My point exactly! It is quite obvious that you need a challenge to jostle you out of the paradisaical inertia that has overcome you.