Ansel Adams and Peter Lik; Worlds Leading Landscape Photographers

Ansel Adams

"At one with the power of the American landscape, and renowned for the patient skill and timeless beauty of his work, photographer Ansel Adams has been a visionary in his efforts to preserve this country's wild and scenic areas, both on film and on Earth. Drawn to the beauty of nature's monuments, he is regarded by environmentalists as a monument himself, and by photographers as a national institution. It is through his foresight and fortitude that so much of America has been saved for future Americans."

President James E. Carter

Peter Lik

"I have stood in awe of sculptured landscapes touched by the emerging dawn, the day's last rays and the haunting glow of the moonlight."

Peter Lik , Master Photographer

When one thinks about beautiful landscape photography of the America's no one is more prominent then Ansel Adams.  He is a master of photography and has made a profound influence on other photographers when it comes to exploring nature and recording its grandeur.  Ansel Adam's pictures are now being compared to those of Peter Lik, an Australian born photographer who grew famous overnight for his landscape photography.  

Comparing both photographers interesting lives and how they capture nature at its best.  

"Ansel Adam's pictures are all the more precious for they stand as the last recordings for the young in the future of what they have missed and for the ageing, for a little while, they will be a souvenir of what was lost" -John Szarkowski

Ansel Adams

I hope that my work will encourage self expression in others and stimulate the search for beauty and creative excitement in the great world around us.

- Ansel Adams 

Peter Lik

Ansel Adams (Feb. 20 1902 — Apr. 22, 1984) paved the way for landscape photography.  Originally a pianist, found his love for photography later in his life and decided to trade the piano for a camera.  He found enjoyment in nature in a way that people weren't able to see; his pictures were often more powerful then the real thing and his pursuit was to share that with the world.

Ansel Adams

His photos mostly done in black and white improved greatly through his career.  The contrasts became a lot darker then when he first started taking pictures which made the photos much more dramatic.  His photos were also very sharp because of the type of lenses he used.  These were all reasons why he became so famous and this style of photography became his trademark.

Peter Lik

Peter Lik (born 1959) is also a self taught photographer born in Melbourne Australia.  He discovered his love for photography at a very young age, and just like Adams, started his career photographing Yosemite National Park.  Later he returned to Australia and continued to take pictures of landscapes with the techniques that made him famous; dramatic lighting, angels and intense colours.

Ansel Adams

Peter Lik

Although Adams' and Lik's styles look very similar, there are several differences.  Some are obvious due to the different times and how technology in cameras has improved a great deal but Lik mostly uses colour, one of the reasons he is most famous for; the bright shades.

Ansel Adams photographed The United States only and mostly stayed on the west coast.  The mountains which you see very often in his pictures made the perfect landscape.

Ansel Adams

Peter Lik

Peter Lik travelled back to The United States later in his career to create an exhibit on the Americas and this journey greatly changed the way his photos are to this day and his technique has improved greatly.

"America is the most beautiful place on earth.  The landscapes in America are miles and miles long, unlike anything else in this world!"- Peter Lik  

Although it is not said anywhere that Ansel Adams was an influence for Peter Lik, their photos are very similar and I would not be surprised if this was the case.  Both Lik and Adams has influenced me through my travels to appreciate nature and document breath taking landscapes in a way that resembles their styles of photography.

Ansel Adams

Peter Lik

I discovered Peter Lik four years ago while I was back packing up the coast in Australia.  I wanderd into one of his galleries and was amazed at how beautiful his work was and how well he was able to capture the true beauty of the country that I was seeing everyday.  Although I could not afford any of his prints (hopefully one day I will), I did purchase his coffee table book which sits in my living room to this day.  Through my travels I often refereed to this book when I saw the perfect shot and tried to get the same angles and appreciation for the beauty in nature.  Because of him I was able to greatly improve my skill and take some breath taking shots of what Australia has to offer.    

Further down my blog you will find some pictures that I took when I was in Australia that were influenced by Lik.  

1. Differences and similarities between art and press photography.


Art photography is ones own creative way of expressing a story and is considered a form of art.  It can come in many different forms but ultimately it is the creative vision of the photographer that comes alive within the photo.  This type of art form allows room for self expression and freedom with the ability to arrange the subjects in the picture then later edit, alter and manipulate the photos. 


In contrast to photojournalism which is also considered a art form, allows less room for creativity. These are photos that are taken to provide visual support for news events.  These pictures are most often candid and capture the moment as is happens.      



2. Is it ethical and acceptable to alter art photos?


It is acceptable to alter art photos and it is done fairly often.  These photos are known to show the photographers imaginative and artistic way of telling a story.




3. Is it ethical and acceptable to alter press photos?


It is not ethical to alter press photography and there are laws in print media which prohibit any alterations done to these pictures.


"The U.S. National Press Photographers Association, and other professional organizations, maintain codes of ethics to specify approaches to these issues" 


Press photography is supposed to provide visual support for a news event and convey the truth.  


Just like Kertesz said, is it about interpreting the scene and often taking candid pictures from behind the "front lines".  


Henri Cartier-Bresson is known as the "Godfather" of photojournalism and "the Decisive Moment"- The instant when a shutter click can suspend an event within the eye and heart of the beholder"

This photo is a colour-altered imagine.  The photographer, Patrick Schneider doctored two images to create one fake photo which resulted in him losing his job at the Charlotte Observer.

This photo done by Jodi Beiber won first prize for the World Press Photo of the year 2010.  It is a portrait of young Bibi Aisha after being brutally beaten and disfigured.

This photo was done by Peter Lik, a photographer from Australia known for taking landscapes.

This photo was done by my photographer friend, Andrius Nareika.