Ihad the great good fortune to attend one of his courses in california over 30 years ago. He was an old man by then and clearly didn't need the money or the hassle of that sort of work. He taught because he loved photography and just wanted to others to be able to share his feelings.
The students were a mixture of pros and amateurs. One day we went out to do some 35mm location work. I arrived with my trusty M3 and 2WA lenses. Most of the other pros had a similar amount of kit. We took the mickey out of the amateurs, most of whom had at least 4 lenses and 2 cameras. Mr Adams had a battered Zeiss Contax with 50mm lens. No prizes for working out who took the best pictures.
The most amazing thing about him was his ability to visualise pictures and use his zone system to get the result he wanted. He would stand in front of a view and tell us whatwould be in focus and what would not. he would point to a shadow and say that there would just a trace of detail in that specific shadow. He would do the same for a specific highlight. It always worked out just as he said it would.
The amazing quality of his photographs was responsible for changing public opinion inthe US and led to many areas being designated as National Parks. After his death in 1984 an 11,000 ft mountain was named after him. Mount Ansel Adams can be found inthe Sierra nevada.
If anybody here ever visits the Yosemite national Park in the US be sure to visit the Ansel Adams Gallery there.