El Capitan, Merced River, Swimmers

Taken during the summertime, this lovely and virtually unknown photograph of Yosemite’s spectacular monolith, El Capitan, features swimmers, bathers, picnickers and summertime fun along the banks of the Merced River. If you look carefully, Ansel skillfully captures the diminutive size of humans in relation to the grand backdrop of one of the most extraordinary landscapes on Earth. This rare and sentimental photograph had been given to family members of Ansel Adams, and has just recently become available.