The photograph “Moon and Half Dome” is a black and white image captured by the renowned photographer Ansel Adams. The scene is set in Yosemite Valley and the photograph likely dates from Ansel Adams’s career around the mid-20th century, as his active years were from the 1920s to the 1960s.
In the photograph, the majestic Half Dome, a well-known granite formation in Yosemite National Park, is prominently displayed. Occupying the right side of the frame, the sheer face of the Half Dome rises starkly against a dark sky. The left side of the formation is bathed in sunlight, creating a dramatic contrast between light and shadow. Above the craggy horizon, the moon is visible in the sky as a small, bright disc. The image is characterized by crisp details, strong contrasts, and the play of light and shadow that are hallmarks of Adams’s style. Overall, the composition evokes a sense of solitude and stark beauty, with the moon providing a silent counterpoint to the massive, enduring presence of Half Dome.
