Ric Burns's documentary for the American Experience series winningly persuades one to think of Ansel Adams as not only the greatest American photographer of the 20th century, but also one of its most treasured artists. Usi... more »ng the familiar formula of New York (and his brother Ken's documentaries), Burns vividly brings Adams's world to life. Narrator David Ogden Stiers is used minimally after the initial set-up, leaving the words to curators, authors, and family members who knew Adams's life and art best (Adams's own letters are also voiced). The film, sponsored by the Sierra Club to mark the 100th anniversary of the photographer's birth, makes a passionate plea for this man "who helped transfer the meaning of wilderness and what people thought about it." There is plenty of time for his magnificent pictures to be shown, often nicely accompanied by modern-day color films of the area. It's a must-see for any fan of Adams. --Doug Thomas« less
"I saw this program on PBS .. it was breath taking; this documentary reveals an interesting chronology of the life of the man along with the growth and development of his genius. It is not a technical critique of his works. Rather, it takes the viewer on a beautiful photographic journey through his life and gives one a appreciation of our American heritage and the precious beauty of our country."
A very beautiful bio
Meph Jones | Los Angeles, CA USA | 04/27/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I was in a hotel in Berkeley one night and just happened to watch this before going to bed. I've heard of Ansel Adams, and seen some of his work on people's walls, but never really knew anything about him. This documentary really draws you in-- a very fine cinematic work in and of itself. Beautiful is a word that describes it best for me. I'm glad it's available on DVD."
Another Ric Burns classic
kkrome25 | California, USA | 10/28/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This documentary is typical of Ric Burns. It's inspirational both visually and mentally; a very humanistic look into who Ansel Adams was as a child, a man, a husband, pianist, and photographer. This is something that should be watched at least once, by photography students and photographers as a whole. I'm sure it won't be viewed just once. The wonderful accounts, spectacular cinematography, and of course, a look at some of the Grand Master's classic photographs round out this finely crafted documentary worthy of Ansel Adams."
Beautiful Documentary
doc enthusiast | NY | 05/27/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"A beautiful documentary telling the story of Ansel Adams life, while also illuminating the history and meaning of photography and the importance of art in our lives"
Larger than life
K. Williams | Los Angeles, CA USA | 05/08/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Ansel was an obsessive compulsive who had emotional and financial peaks and valleys that mirrored the contrasts within his photographic subject matter.
Many of the photos are breathtaking but cannot be adequately portrayed on screen; they are panned and zoomed to depict entire image but you lose the totality of the entire composition. Nevertheless, the documentary is a good introduction to a larger than life image on both ends of a camera lens."