Ansel Adams' proofs on display cause a tempest.

[johnastovall]

The Museum of the Albemarle is showing 30 proofs created to Adams taken by him during a cruise of the Inland Waterway.

Trustees of the Ansel Adams Publishing Rights Trust in Mill Valley, Calif. while not allowing prints to be made from the hand held shots made with a Zeiss Super Ikonta BX were not able to prevent the proofs from being shown.

More about it here.

[srwatters]

Personally I feel they should be seen. Would you stop Beethoven's or Mahler's 10th from being heard? I think it's just as much greed on the part of the AA publishing Rights Trust as the museum. Of course, YMMV.

[dbphotos]

Yes, they should absolutley be seen. One of the highlights to my visits to Yosesmite is seeing the Ansel Adams gallery. He was incredible and took some shots that can never be duplicated because of "progress".

[studiocygnet]

It's not like they are printing new photos from negatives. Adams printed these himself as proofs, and gave them to his friend. So I agree with the museum - they are part of history and something that he gave over control of long ago by passing them on. They are calling them proofs, and not misrepresenting them in any way, so I don't quite get what the conflict is.

[NathanJK]

I just wish I could see the proofs online :( It's not like I'll ever make it out to the Museum of Albemarle

[nyphotopro]

I hope one day my best work compares to Ansel's worst work. The only way I'll know is if I see everything he's ever done. Photos are meant to be seen. That's the only way I learn.

[Bill]

Except, the Trust is the voice of AA regarding copyright. He could have released the copyright on his work but he did not. His decision. Eventually the copyright will extinguish.

That said, however, I do enjoy seeing contact sheets and work prints of great photographers.

Bill

[venchka]

Doesn't copyright cover/protect against unauthorized copying or reproduction? Displaying isn't copying or reproducing. Look but don't touch. Seems to me that the museum has the right to display. What do I know? I'm not a lawyer.

[venchka]

I also agree with Matt. Ansel Adams' worst work is still plenty good enough.

[johnastovall]

Originally Posted by Bill

Except, the Trust is the voice of AA regarding copyright. He could have released the copyright on his work but he did not. His decision. Eventually the copyright will extinguish.

That said, however, I do enjoy seeing contact sheets and work prints of great photographers.

Bill

I suspect the trust has already taken advantage of the copyright extension laws and it'll be the middle of this century before any will extinguish and who knows they law may be changed to extended copyright even more. I'm sure Disney would like that....

[JPalmer]

Originally Posted by srwatters

Would you stop Beethoven's or Mahler's 10th from being heard?

A better example would be... Would you stop from showing the unfinished and marked up score for one of Beethoven's works....

If the AA is so concerned by this... they should offer a fair price to the Museum to purchase the contact prints from them. What would 40-some contact prints of "Moonrise over Hernandez" be worth?...