Ansel Adams photos donated to Carson church

A member of the First Presbyterian Church of Carson City congregation has donated 20 Ansel Adams photos for a benefit silent auction for the church.

Six of the 20 pictures have been discontinued by the Ansel Adams Gallery in Yosemite Valley, Calif., making the print more difficult to obtain.

"These pictures are produced from the original negatives by Adams' primary assistant Alan Ross," said Todd Butterworth, who is helping coordinate Sunday's silent auction.

"All pictures are initialed by Alan Ross. The only difference between these and possibly others is they are not autographed by Ansel Adams."

Adams is perhaps most famous for his black-and-white photography of Yosemite National Park. Of the 20 pictures in the auction, the first picture was taken in 1927 of Bridalveil Fall; the last is Eagle Peak and Middle Brother, Winter, in 1968.

Adams first photographed Yosemite at the age of 14, using a Kodak Box Brownie camera. He marveled at "the absolute pure air and clean dawn wind and the glowing sunrise on these warm-toned peaks, and the sound of the river and waterfall - the whole thing created an impact which was quite overpowering."

Adams was a champion of protecting Yosemite National Park, wanting to save it from becoming an overcrowded playground and resort. His persistence, books, writings and pictures helped protect the park.

The six pictures no longer available are: Yosemite Valley from Inspiration Point, Winter; Yosemite Falls; Half Dome, Oak Trees, Autumn; Sentinel Rock and Yosemite Valley from Glacier Point Trail; Valley View, and Forest Detail, Winter.

According to Butterworth, the donor has a "serious" collection of black-and- white work by other photographers.

"You can only put so much on the walls and this person felt it was time to share with others," said Butterworth.

"All of these pictures were purchased more than 20 years ago. They felt these particular pictures were very appropriate for the community, and the most recognizable."

The church has made possible 50 percent of the purchase price of each picture to be a tax-deductible donation. Each 8-inch by 10-inch picture is framed.

"The first phase of our plan is to pay off the Family Life Center. We hope to do that by the end of year 2002. Once it is paid off, we will dive into plans for refurbishing the sanctuary."

What: Silent auction of Ansel Adams photographs

When: 2-4 p.m. Sunday

Where: Private residence

Contact: Todd Butterworth, 884-2468