ANSEL ADAMS

ONE THIRTY ONE

TWENTY FOURTH AVENUE

SAN FRANCISCO

[1936]

October 11th

Dear Stieglitz,

The photographs have been expressed today direct to you at 509 Madison Avenue, New York City. Courvoisier Galleries did the Passe-partouting and the packing, and it looked like a fine job to me. I only hope you will like them. I feel quite happy about the prints, but I have been working on them for so long that I am slightly etherized.

One thing in particular; when I made the final selection of prints, I tried to recreate the experience of making the negative. The pictures seemed to become more intense and more accurate in tone and detailed proportions. I was supprised how some of them looked much better than the first prints I made of them. Usually it is the other way. I think I have a consistent quality throughout the show.

On an enclosed sheet you will find a list of the prints and my tentative prices. As I said, if you feel any alteration of prices advisable, please change them. On another enclosed sheet is an attempt at a statement about photography. If you can use it - fine. If you don't like it - tear it up. I have a fierce time stating what I feel about anything in words. On another enclosed sheet you will find a rough list of the technical data of the prints; there may be some curious photographers who think the work is more complicated than it is.

I certainly hope they arrive in good condition. And I hope you will not find the show less than your expectations. I will, of course, await news of the response with great eagerness; I will bet that 1/3 of the spectators will like them, 1/3 will be non-committal, and the other 1/3 will heartily dislike them. As for the critics - I expect 90% slams, 9% milky comment, and 1% approval. However, I want to know everything - even the worst.

with all good wishes to you and O'Keeffe

yours

Fannie Adams

GHOST RANCH

ABIQUIU, NEW MEXICO

Telegraph: Espanola, N. M.

September 21st, 1937

Dear Stieglitz,

By a miraculous sequences of circumstances and the kindness of
David McAlpin I am in New Mexico with three cameras, a case of films, a big
appetite, and a vigorous feeling of accomplishment.

It is all very beautiful and magical here- a quality which can
not be described. You have to live it and breath it, let the sun bake it into
you. The skies and land are so enormous, and the detail so precise and exquisite
that wherever you are you are isolated in a glowing world between the macro-
and the micro-, where everything is sidewise under you and over you, and the
clocks stopped long ago.

O'Keeffe is supremely happy and painting, as usual, supremely
swell things. When she goes out riding with a blue shirt, black vest and black
hat, and scampers around against the thunderclouds - I tell you, its something!
All that is needed to complete the picture is to have you out in the gardens at
six AM in your green cape. I am quite certain you would like it here. But it is
a long way from New York, especially for a person of your kind of schedules to
fill.

I think I am getting some very good things - quite different, I
believe. I like to think of my present stuff as more subtle, more lifting-up-the-
lid, if you know what I mean. I did some new things in the Owen's Valley in
California that I want you to see; I hope I will have things from here that I
would want you to see, too.

Nothing important has happened to me, except a glimmering of
wondering what it is all about - work, and living in general. Perhaps I am on
the edge of making a really good photograph. I hope so. I have a growing
awareness of the insufficiencies of my work. I hope it's a good sign.

O'Keeffe tells me you are in good shape and have had a bearable
summer. I am glad - you deserve the best of good health and peace of mind. A
season such as yours in New York must be a very wearing thing for the strongest
person.

Its trite to say it, but I wish you were here. Gawd knows when I
will get to New York again - but I hope it will not be in the too distant future.
McAlpin send you his very best. He is a good man, with a precious mixture of
caution and enthusiasm.

all good wishes to you