Ansel Adams and digital cameras

August 30, 2010 1:46 AM

Looking for information about Ansel Adams (possibly?) using an early digital camera.

After reading this great post today about the invention of digital cameras, I clearly remembered having read somewhere (some book or article many years ago) that Adams tried out one of the earliest digital cameras or prototypes shortly before his death in 1984 -- and even, if I remember rightly, that he had positive things to say about it. I can't begin to remember where I read this, but I can't seem to dig up any clear information on google about it one way or another, much less examples of any digital photos he may have taken. Did he or didn't he?

Thanks in advance.

posted by Noah to Media & Arts (3 answers total)

Well there is this interview with his son who speculates that his father would have loved and embraced digital photography, as well as the fact that he was in a position to be constantly evaluating the latest from the camera manufacturers. But he stops short of actually saying that Adams tried any digital gear before his death, which I think he would have mentioned if it had happened rather than "he would have".
posted by Rhomboid at 2:59 AM on August 30, 2010

Here's a post from The Online Photographer about an interview from 1979 in which he talks about digital printing and how, in a few years, "the electronic image is really going to be the medium in photography."

http://theonlinephotographer.typepad.com/the_online_photographer/2010/04/ansel-redux-.html

Not exactly what you were asking for, but I thought I remembered reading something similar and this is what I'd read.
posted by Cicerius at 6:09 AM on August 30, 2010

Response by poster: Yeah, I think that may be at least part of what I was remembering -- he spoke of it as "electronic" photography, not digital, and it looks like he did indeed make a number of comments about it. So he was certainly aware of the technology, and given his enthusiasm about it and (as Rhomboid mentioned) his status with the manufacturers, plus the fact that he lived for nearly a full decade after the invention of the first digital camera, I'd be surprised if he hadn't at least examined one at some point even if he didn't actually use it. (OTOH, you'd think there'd be something out there about it if he had, I suppose.)

Anyway, was just curious -- thanks for the replies.
posted by Noah at 6:31 AM on August 30, 2010