Robert Adams
Robert Adams is best known for his work as a Topograhical photographer.
Having been born in Orange, New Jersey in 1937, he relocated to Colorado as a fledgling professional photographer. His interest was piqued with regard to recording the change in the western landscapes since the day of early photography and how it had change and his approach has a neutral on non-judgmental approach. He went on to study English earning his BA from the University of Redlands in California, and then a PhD in English from the University of Southern California, sooner after taking a professorship in English He became known for his essays. In 1970 Robert Adams decided to leave the academia and pursue his love of photography. Some of his most notable and memorable photo essays are those that document the scenery of Colorado.
In 1975, Robert Adams photographed for night scenes for a week, particularly focusing on the freeways new Colton in California bringing ones attention to the intrusion of man into what should have been a serene landscape – these were published called Expressway near Colton. Whilst photographing at night he was harassed by public and police alike.
He has published several books, namely, Beauty in Photography: Essays in Defense of Traditional Values in 1981, followed by To Make it Home: Photographs of the American West in 1989, then the much acclaimed Listening to the River: Seasons in the American West, soon followed by West of Columbia: Views at the River Mouth in 1995. In total Robert Adams has published more than 20.
His photographs view natural landscapes affected by the human interventions, and include the idea of a social interaction. In 1974, his work New Topographics: Photographs of Man-Altered Landscape formed part of the International Museum of Photography exhibition that was held in Rochester, New York. It was to form the basis of a new approach to landscape photography drawing from the social element that exists.
Adams portraits of the Western landscapes show a certain melancholy for the lost innocence of the past and a decided air of overall loss of something intrinsically beautiful. This comes to mind particularly in pictures of withered trees and deserted farms.
It is important to note that four geographic surveys were conducted soon after the Civil War. The assigned surveyors were accompanied by photographers. In this light, the new topographical photographer like Robert Adams, have compared the landmarks of the past in relation to why can be seen today. Robert Adams has addressed the destruction of the Western landscape, to discuss the need for a shift in attitude, to preserve that which is so precious.
Interestingly, Robert Adams relates his own photographic works to that of his grandfather who took panoramic photographs of the Dakota prairies during the exploration of the West and takes cognizance of his own family’s involvement in its settlement.
Robert Adams’ work both photographic and literary, has earned him a Guggenheim Award in 1973 and then, two National Endowments for the Arts Photography, and a MacArthur fellowship in 1994. Robert Adams is clearly one of the foremost American nature photographers. The Yale University Art Gallery holds an archive of Robert Adam’s prints, and is presently involved in a collaboration to produce a retrospective work, to tour the United States.
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