The Lost Negatives

Don't know how many of you have been following the supposedly found lost Ansel Adams negatives but briefly, a guy bought the negatives ten years ago at a garage sale in Fresno of all places for $45. Subsequently, the buyer did some research and came to the conclusion that the negatives were taken by the late Ansel Adams. He hired experts to testify that they were in fact Adams' work and that his $45. investment is now worth $200 million. The photographer's family and friends however remain skeptical. Anyway, it's now becoming an interesting legal battle.

Here is a recent article explaining what has taken place.

Meanwhile, I leave you with this Ansel Adams photo I found from the Library of Congress collection to illustrate a point. It was taken when Ansel visited the japanese internment camp at Manzanar, California during WW II. It's from an authentic Ansel Adams negative but it's certainly not an Ansel Adams print.

Adams performed magic in the darkroom, making his photographs come alive. It's that magic along with his signature that give value to his work. Not just a handful of negatives.