Lagoon, Reflections, Pfeifer Beach

About Artist

Alan Ross is an internationally respected master photographer and educator who expresses his unique vision with a combination of traditional photographic craftsmanship and today’s technology.  His tonally exquisite photographs take the viewer from the grandeur of the American West to the changing faces of China to abstractions created by the relationship of objects both natural and man-made. Each image is a pure visual and emotional response to subject matter, executed with an exacting eye and superior technical artistry.

Alan honed his vision and technique while working side-by-side with Ansel Adams in the field and in the darkroom as his full-time photographic assistant. He was integrally involved with Adams’ books, teaching in Yosemite and production of fine prints. Alan was personally selected by Adams to be the exclusive printer of the Yosemite Special Edition Photograph negatives, an assignment he has enjoyed for nearly 50 years. As such, Alan knows Ansel’s approach and technique perhaps better than any other photographer today.

In 1979, Alan left Ansel and Carmel to open a commercial photography studio in San Francisco, where he enjoyed working on projects ranging from world-wide campaigns for the Bank of America to landscape murals for the National Park Service.

He relocated to Santa Fe in 1993 and enjoys pursuing his art, teaching, writing articles, and traveling the globe speaking about his years with Ansel and the impact that had on his own work.

Alan is also a consummate and dedicated photographic educator who gladly shares his vast knowledge of the art and craft of fine art photography, inspiring professionals and amateurs alike as they work to realize and refine their photographic voice.

His photographs hang in collections, galleries and museums around the world, including the George O’Keeffe Museum, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Huntington Library, the Center for Creative Photography, University of Michigan Museum of Art, Princeton University Art Museum, Yale Museum of Art and other public and private collections.

Story Behind the Image

Ansel Adams had no concept of a day off, so in July of 1974, he hired me as his second assistant. First assistant, Ted Orland, worked Monday through Friday, while I took the weekend shift, working Friday through Monday. This was Ansel's way of assuring there wasn't an idle moment, especially when there was work to be done.

My first "gotta do" after I was hired was to find a place to live. Carmel photographer and early mentor Al Weber found temporary lodging for me in a rustic house on the road to Big Sur's stunning Pfeiffer Beach. For my first month or two with Ansel, I often started my mornings photographing at the beach before driving up to foggy Carmel for work. This image was done one such magically quiet moment. 4x5 Ilford FP4.

Print Information

Limited Edition Prints signed and numbered in an edition of 100. Each print is made personally by Alan Ross, printed either on Ilford Multigrade Classic fiber paper (SGP) and selenium toned or on Canson Platine paper (APP) using a Canon Pro-1000 printer and my personal printing profiles. Mounted and over-matted with 4-ply or 8-ply museum board using the most current industry standards for archival permanence.

Prices and availability subject to change without notice.

Ordering Information

Original photographs are hand-made, and not all sizes are kept in inventory.
Special orders from the photographer may take 4 to 6 weeks for delivery.

Please contact us at sales@anseladams.com if you have any questions about shipping and delivery.