Nature photographer Ansel Adams was born in San Francisco, California in 1902.

Inspired by a family trip to Yosemite, California in 1916, Ansel Adams later became famous for his photographs of the western United States landscape. Adams worked closely with the Sierra Club, and his work documenting the national parks—for which he won three Guggenheim grants—was instrumental in nature conservation efforts. His technical expertise, photographic clarity and many contributions to photography are also among his legacies. 

ARTSEDGE 
In the ARTSEDGE lesson, Discovering National Parks (5-8), students discuss why Ansel Adams was such an effective advocate for national parks after reading a biography of Adams and viewing a gallery of his photos. 

High school students explore the influence of photography on the creation of the national park system, a movement in which Ansel Adams was a leader, in the ARTSEDGE lesson Photography and the National Park Service (9-12).

Xpeditions 
Students critically examine a nature photograph to determine whether or not it is a hoax in the Xpeditions lesson Don't Be Fooled by a Photograph (6-8). 

Science NetLinks 
Learn how nature photography reaches new extremes in the Science NetLinks Science Update SealCam (6-12).