New Ansel Adams Reproductions Introduced

Dec. 4, 2008 - PRLog -- YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, Calif. -- Nearly 25 years have passed since a new type of Ansel Adams photographic reproduction has been offered.  Now, digital reproductions of photographs made by the artist are being introduced by The Ansel Adams Gallery.  These new “Archival Replicas” have come about because of recent advances in printing and imaging technology.  

“To display an Ansel Adams photograph, people have had three choices until now: an original print made by the artist, Yosemite Special Edition photographs limited to 8 by 10” or fine art posters,” said Matthew Adams of The Ansel Adams Gallery. “These new Archival Replicas expand the selection of his work available to the public in a range of sizes, and do so at affordable prices,” Adams continued.

The ability to offer high-quality digital reproductions of photographs made by Ansel Adams was first considered three to four years ago when Matthew Adams and his staff started seeing printers with the capability of producing neutral black and white images with deep blacks.  He explained, “We were disappointed then that neutral, gray-ink-only reproductions rarely came close to Ansel’s photographs.  However, in the past two years, technology has advanced to the point that we’re now able to make reproductions of my grandfather’s originals to extraordinarily exacting standards.”

The imaging process employed is so advanced that, other than The Ansel Adams Gallery, only the Getty Museum and Smithsonian Institution are now using it.  That technology, coupled with digital printers that use 12 inks, including four shades of gray, gives the Archival Replicas the full range of tone and hue of gelatin silver prints, according to Matthew.  “We believe these are the best large-format reproductions of Ansel’s work yet made,” he said.

The Archival Replica program draws from the combined collections of the Adams family and the Center for Creative Photography at the University of Arizona, where Ansel Adams’ archive resides.  Seven images that he created between 1930 and 1955 were chosen, including photographs made in Yosemite National Park, Kings Canyon National Park, Canyon de Chelly, at Point Sur and of the Marin Headlands.  

The Archival Replicas range in size from 7 by 9” to 30 by 38” and cost from $79 to $999, depending upon size, mounting, matting and framing.  Each year, additional photographs will be made available.  Ansel Adams Archival Replicas are offered exclusively from The Ansel Adams Gallery.  They can be seen in Yosemite Valley and online at www.anseladams.com.

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Media Contacts:
Matthew Adams, 650-692-3495
John Poimiroo, 916-933-8860

Note to Editors: additional background material and .jpgs of the Archival Replicas are available on request.

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About The Ansel Adams Gallery: The Ansel Adams Gallery has been owned and operated by the Ansel Adams family since its founding as a painter's studio in 1902. Located in Yosemite Village beside the Yosemite Valley Visitor Center, The Ansel Adams Gallery displays the work of Ansel Adams and those of select contemporary landscape photographers. The Gallery has also been a leader in photographic education since 1940, when Ansel began teaching workshops in Yosemite. Over the years the The Ansel Adams Gallery workshop program has evolved to meet current time requirements and technological needs, and the Gallery has classes ranging from 1 to 6 days covering a wide range of topics and locations. www.anseladams.com