Early Morning, Merced River

Overview

Of all the American landscapes that Ansel Adams immortalized through his images, Yosemite was the most deeply personal. In Yosemite he discovered his spiritual home and built his family. He first visited the Park in 1916 and he returned every year thereafter, meeting his wife there and then raising his family within Yosemite's splendor. Ansel hoped his images would inspire park visitors to become activists for Yosemite's preservation, instilled with a deeper connection to the natural world and desire to protect it. With that as his main goal, Ansel conceived this series of Yosemite Special Edition Photographs in the late 1950s. With images of Half Dome, Lake Tenaya, Merced River and more, he invited everyone to be of part of his 'art as activism" by pricing the prints at an affordable cost. We honor that intention today, offering these stunning silver prints to all who wish to express their love for Yosemite and desire to protect it as a natural wonder.

Today, with America’s wild spaces increasingly under threat, Ansel’s vision for the Special Edition Photographs remains as relevant as ever.

Yosemite Special Edition Photographs are the closest photographic reproductions to Ansel’s original masterpieces, painstakingly handcrafted from his negatives by former assistant Alan Ross. Alan Ross worked under Ansel’s direct observation from 1975 until 1984, and has been producing the series in accordance to Ansel's instructions ever since. Each silver photograph shimmers with brilliance, with richly perfected black and white tones. From a selection of 29 stunning images of Yosemite, each photograph is printed in 8x10 inches and authorized by the Ansel Adams Publishing Rights Trust. With professional framing available, this collection ranges in price from $375 (mounted and matted) to $800 (framed).

We invite you to stand with Ansel in his commitment to honoring and cherishing the unparalleled beauty of Yosemite by showcasing an Ansel Adams Yosemite Special Edition Photograph. As an owner of a Special Edition Photograph, you too can share Ansel's vision, inspiring others to preserve and protect Yosemite for years to come.

Technical Information on Yosemite Special Edition Photographs

About this Image

Ansel Adams made this image around 1950 with an aluminum 8" x 10" Kodak camera, a replica of the Kodak wooden flatbed camera that once belonged to the Greenland explorer Louise Boyd. He'd driven past the spot often, glimpsing it from the corner of his eye. Then one morning moments after the sun rose over Yosemite Valley, he stopped to capture "Early Morning, Merced River " just steps from the highway. In Examples: The Making of 40 Photographs , he recalls making the image: “This serene subject is only about one hundred feet from the highway; I have passed it hundreds of times, and I retain many 'corner of the eye' memories of it at all times of the year. The shapes, even glimpsed from a moving car, were always beautiful, but the lighting conditions usually were impossible. On this morning I could not resist; a glance was enough to command me to stop, park my car, and carry my equipment to the scene. My eye enjoyed a wonderful impression of light in all areas, but it was a very high contrast subject for the film, and I recognized this problem as I was setting up the camera." Adams generally declined to describe how he visualized images, believing words failed to convey the qualities of expressive images. However, he did address the sequence of procedures that led to his making the photograph: "I am sure the image developed in my unconscious mind over time; on the morning the picture was made I recognized the desired image immediately. All the components fell into place in terms of form and value. The mood of the image was established and visualized intuitively.” "Early Morning, Merced River " appears in Yosemite and the Range of Light (out of print), Yosemite and the High Sierra , and Examples: The Making of 40 Photographs.

What's Included

Handcrafted Gelatin Silver Photograph from Ansel Adams' negative by Alan Ross

Museum-Quality Frame & Finish

Ready to hang (wired backing)

Expert Packaging with Care

30 day - 100% Satisfaction Guarantee (or full refund)

Framing Details

Yosemite Special Edition Photograph Framing Details

Frame your Special Edition Photograph and receive it ready to hang and designed to stand the test of time. Our Gallery makes framing easy, offering competitive prices, speed and convenience. Every frame is professionally built by our team of expert craftspeople using the highest-quality materials (wood or metal moulding, acid-free mats and foam core, and optional acrylic with 99% UV protection). Our turnaround time is fast—usually 2-3 business days to create your piece— and then we ship your finished work of art to your door.

Standard vs Museum Acrylic
Premium Gray Welded Frame
Wood Frame
Metal Frames

Standard vs Museum Acrylic

We use Tru-Vue Picture Framing Acrylic (plexiglass) on all of our prints. Acrylic is strong, shatter-resistant and abrasion-resistant. When shipping your artwork, acrylic vastly safer than glass.

Our Standard Acrylic is Tru-Vue Premium Clear Acrylic. This is high-quality framing-grade clear acrylic that provides safety and security from injury and breakage. This acrylic blocks 66% of UV rays.

Our Museum Acrylic is Tru-Vue Optium Museum Acrylic®. This is virtually invisible, yet provides the ultimate protection for your artwork. It is the highest-quality acrylic available and is used by the world’s most renowned museums. This acrylic provides 99% UV protection. Is anti-reflective, abrasion and shatter-resistant.

Premium Gray Welded Frame (formerly known as “Custom Gray Frame”)

Made exclusively for our gallery. This closed-corner welded aluminum frame is custom-made for The Ansel Adams Gallery in Ansel’s Zone V gray. This is our preferred frame for Yosemite Special Edition Photographs. This frame features a ⅜” face and is painted to be a flat gray zone V finish.

Frame Dimensions

Wood Frames

Our wood frames are premium quality solid wood, contemporary style frames with a flat face. Offered in White and Black Colors

Frame Dimensions
For Yosemite Special Edition Photographs is  ⅞” face moulding

Standard Metal Frames

Our metal frames are Nielsen with a ⅜” face . Sleek, clean, contemporary frames available in German Silver and Matte Black colors.

Frame Dimensions