To commemorate the reopening of PHOTO HISTORY MUSEUM on June 1, we are delighted to announce the photo exhibition Photographs by Ansel Adams: Portfolio IV. Ansel Adams was one of the leading black and white silver halide photographers of the 20th century, and this special exhibition, which runs from June 1 - September 30, 2010, features a selection of Adams' original prints of exquisite landscapes and still life.

Ansel Adams is renowned as a master photographer of the 20th century whose works are housed in several leading museums and galleries around the world. Along with fellow members of the photographic Group f/64, including Edward Weston and Imogen Cunningham, Adams advocated sharply focused and carefully framed images. Adams' works were based largely on a zonal system and focused mainly on natural landscapes with occasional forays into portrait and architectural photography. However, all his works sought to draw out the essence of the subject being photographed and his images have since been recognized as making an important contribution to the aesthetic value of photography. Although Adams is largely known for his photographic works, he was also a dedicated conservationist, and served for many years as a director of the Sierra Club, a grassroots organization devoted to the conservation of the natural environment. Adams was also a founding member of the photographic department of New York's Museum of Modern Art and the Center for Creative Photography at the University of Arizona.

The Portfolio IV exhibition is one of Fujifilm's most valuable photographic collections. The 15 original prints in the collection were selected personally by Adams and its extreme rarity makes it a highly valued collectors item. The collection was dedicated to the memory of fellow Sierra Club member and leading physicist Russell Varian, who developed the Klystron Tube, a high-frequency amplifier for generating microwaves. The collection was produced with the support of the Varian Foundation and published by the Sierra Club in 1963.

Thanks to Ansel Adams' valuable photographic collections, we have the opportunity to revisit and review our original evaluations of the concept and actual value of photography.