Robert Adams
Robert Adams is a quintessential example of the New Topographics school that was prominent in the 70s (see also the Bechers, Shore, Gohlke, Baltz, etc). The influences of its idea/aesthetic/sensibility remain apparent in photography today. (One needs to only replace random lonely inanimate landscapes with random lonely people.) On the other hand, another common theme on top of subject matter for the New Topographics was an absolute mastery and control of the black and white medium, which is something altogether rare today. Not non-existent, but certainly not easily found. Anyhow, even if this work Adams did in the West now seems un-extraordinary in it’s visual commonplace-ness today, there’s still much to be had from it I think.
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The New Topographics was a genius show and unfortunately, 99% of photographers today no nothing about it.
Also, the craft of making a black and white print has been slowly slipping away since the introduction of digital imagery.
David, would have been a cool show to see for sure, groundbreaking.