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In a Rugged Land: Ansel Adams, Dorothea Lange, and the Three Mormon Towns Collaboration, 1953–1954
Though photographers Dorothea Lange and Ansel Adams were contemporaries and longtime friends, most of their work portrays contrasting subject matter. Lange’s artistic photodocumentation set a new aesthetic standard for social commentary; Adams lit up nature’s wonders with an unfailing eye and preeminent technical skill. That they joined together to photograph Mormons in Utah in the early 1950s for Life magazine may come as a surprise.
In a Rugged Land examines the history and content of the two photographers’ forgotten collaboration Three Mormon Towns . Looking at Adams’s and Lange’s photographs, extant letters, and personal memories, the book provides a window into an important moment in their careers and seeks to understand why a project that once held such promise ended in disillusionment and is now little more than a footnote in their illustrative biographies. Swensen’s in-depth research and interpretation help make sense of what they did and place them alongside others who were also exploring the particular qualities of the Mormon village at that time.
Winner of the Joan Paterson Kerr Book Award for best illustrated book on the history of the American West from the Western History Association.
Winner of the Best Book Award from the Utah State Historical Society.
Winner of the 15 Bytes Book Award for Art Book.
Honorable mention for Best Book from the Mormon History Association.
In a Rugged Land examines the history and content of the two photographers’ forgotten collaboration Three Mormon Towns . Looking at Adams’s and Lange’s photographs, extant letters, and personal memories, the book provides a window into an important moment in their careers and seeks to understand why a project that once held such promise ended in disillusionment and is now little more than a footnote in their illustrative biographies. Swensen’s in-depth research and interpretation help make sense of what they did and place them alongside others who were also exploring the particular qualities of the Mormon village at that time.
Winner of the Joan Paterson Kerr Book Award for best illustrated book on the history of the American West from the Western History Association.
Winner of the Best Book Award from the Utah State Historical Society.
Winner of the 15 Bytes Book Award for Art Book.
Honorable mention for Best Book from the Mormon History Association.
432 pages, Paperback
First published June 30, 2018
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14 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
January 9, 2020
Read for Art Book Club.
In a Rugged Land is absolutely not a book I would read of my own accord, but I'm grateful to have read it. As someone who lives in Utah but is not *from* this state, this book gave me some interesting history and grounding in the state through the lens of a collaboration between Dorothea Lange and Ansel Adams as they traveled through three mormon towns, taking pictures of the towns, the terrain, and the people. the photography in this book was gorgeous, and as one group member mentioned---breathtaking in moments.
I enjoyed getting some history of photojournalism and the ever present conflict of photojournalism vs photography as Art.
I enjoyed reading about Dorothea Lange and look forward to reading more books/learning more about her in the future
In a Rugged Land is absolutely not a book I would read of my own accord, but I'm grateful to have read it. As someone who lives in Utah but is not *from* this state, this book gave me some interesting history and grounding in the state through the lens of a collaboration between Dorothea Lange and Ansel Adams as they traveled through three mormon towns, taking pictures of the towns, the terrain, and the people. the photography in this book was gorgeous, and as one group member mentioned---breathtaking in moments.
I enjoyed getting some history of photojournalism and the ever present conflict of photojournalism vs photography as Art.
I enjoyed reading about Dorothea Lange and look forward to reading more books/learning more about her in the future
February 7, 2021
This was an interesting read if you are into photography and/or Southwest Utah history.
November 19, 2019
Story Behind Their Amazing Southwest Photographs
Southern Utah in the early 1950s was the focus of the collaboration of the Ansel Adams and Dorothea Lange photography project among the Mormon people and their beautiful mountains. Part of the story includes Maynard Dixon's influence and paintings.
Swensen's masterful portrayal of these artists and their struggles to achieve such a treasure of photos is told well in this photo documentary. Told too is the story of the people who scratched out an existence in the barren desert's colorful landscape.
Included in the many stories is one of a woman born in England in the 1850s who immigated and crossed the Great Plains as a child and lived long enough to share her experiences in the 1950s.
This is Swensen's second work of Dorothea Lange and reveals what small American towns were like during the Korean War. Shown in well-printed format this volume reveals the souls of hardworking people building something that lasted.
At the same time and place if these extraordinary photos,John Ford filmed some of his greatest western movies, while the famous sociologist Thomas F. O'Dea was making his landmark study of the Mormon people.
My only disappointment was the book's availability only in Kindle or large paperbound print versions, rather than hardback; however, both provide lower cost options for a broader audience. If you love photography and American history, then this is a worthwhile investment
Southern Utah in the early 1950s was the focus of the collaboration of the Ansel Adams and Dorothea Lange photography project among the Mormon people and their beautiful mountains. Part of the story includes Maynard Dixon's influence and paintings.
Swensen's masterful portrayal of these artists and their struggles to achieve such a treasure of photos is told well in this photo documentary. Told too is the story of the people who scratched out an existence in the barren desert's colorful landscape.
Included in the many stories is one of a woman born in England in the 1850s who immigated and crossed the Great Plains as a child and lived long enough to share her experiences in the 1950s.
This is Swensen's second work of Dorothea Lange and reveals what small American towns were like during the Korean War. Shown in well-printed format this volume reveals the souls of hardworking people building something that lasted.
At the same time and place if these extraordinary photos,John Ford filmed some of his greatest western movies, while the famous sociologist Thomas F. O'Dea was making his landmark study of the Mormon people.
My only disappointment was the book's availability only in Kindle or large paperbound print versions, rather than hardback; however, both provide lower cost options for a broader audience. If you love photography and American history, then this is a worthwhile investment
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews