The first time I knew anything about digital cameras was many years ago while talking on the phone with Ansel Adams. It was around 1981, not sure of the date.
I called him and didn’t expect him to answer the phone but thought it would be someone in his office. He answered the phone and said “hello”. I said “is this Ansel Adams?” and he said “yes, who is calling?”
I was star struck at first and told him so. He said “that’s OK.”
Anyway he was really nice and we talked for a while about the Zone System and the problems with photo contests I was having at the time. He didn’t like most of them and didn’t care much for photography schools either.
One thing that I remember that will interest lots of people is that he knew a lot about the future of digital photography and what was going to happen. Amazing isn’t it, remember this was 1981, no computers to speak of, no cell phones, no internet, but he knew digital photography was coming.
He said “I hope I’m around to see it!” Then he said “good luck” and we said goodbye.
My wife came in as I hung up and said “what’s wrong with you?”
I said, “I just talked to Ansel Adams!”
she said, “that’s nice, I have to fix dinner, and the cat’s in the highest tree on the mountain.”
I said, “you don’t understand, I called Ansel Adams and I know the future!.
She said, “OK, what’s happening in the future? Are you making any money?”
I said, “I’m taking you out tonight”
She said, “Wow, maybe you could talk to this guy more often.”