Ansel Adams, American, 1902 – 1984, Untitled (Reflections in River), c. 1930, Gelatin silver print 6 x 8”, Fine Arts Purchase, LUF 02 1023
This photograph was captured by American Photographer Ansel Adams in 1930. Although the exact location of the river is unknown, we can conclude based on lack of flow in most areas that this was a flat area of the river. In some areas in this image ,”Untitled”, there is certain aspects about the motion in the ripple that is crisply focused and other circles within the ripple that are not as focused. The circles seem to be larger than if whatever object created the ripple had just touched the water. The crispness in some of the ripples suggests that this was a moment that would have disappeared but was taken in a moment of action so it became frozen in time. The blurred ripples also give the viewer the idea that this droplet had been moving for a given period of time before the image was taken.
The ripple itself Is framed by the reflection of plants and trees and what appears to be a mountain. These natural elements contrast the unnatural pattern of what appears to be the ripple of an object being thrown into the pool of water. The circular motion of the ripple guides the viewers eye and places emphasis between the scenery on top of the water and the reflection of the beautiful landscape within the water. The darks and lights of this image between the brightest colors in the water and the darkness of the trees and shrubs create a well balanced piece of art.
Good observations. The reflection is more dominant in the shot than the landscape above the water, both in the amount of space taken up in the picture plane and in the overall balance.