Monolith, the Face of Half Dome

Monolith, the Face of Half Dome, Yosemite National Park, California is a black and white photograph taken by Ansel Adams in 1927 that depicts the western face of Half Dome in Yosemite, California. In the foreground of the photo, viewers are able to see the texture and detail of the rock. Pine trees and the Tenaya Peak are visible in the background. Monolith was used by the Sierra Club as a visual aid for the environmental movement, and was the first photograph Adams made that was based on feelings, a concept he would come to define as visualization and prompt him to create the Zone System. The original glass plate negative of Monolith is still intact and printable. The photograph is a part of the portfolio Parmelian Prints of the High Sierras, released in 1927.