When Ansel was a child, he was full of energy. He always wanted to be outside exploring the hills and forests near his home. Dur
ing long walks with his family, Ansel collected bugs and explored colors, shapes, and textures in nature. He loved to stare closely at the patterns on the rocks and to run his finger over them. Ansel realized that there was a wide world out there for him to explore!
One day, his family took a trip to Yosemite National Park, and his life changed forever. He was amazed by the beautiful landscapes he saw. He exclaimed to his father, "The colors and lines of Yosemite are bursting out at us! It is glorious here." His father laughed at his enthusiasm and was proud of him for appreciating nature. He was so proud of his son that he gave him a camera to photograph Yosemite's stunning landscapes.
Suddenly, Ansel could explore the world in a way he never could before. When he saw shapes, textures, and colors that really caught his attention, he would get into the perfect position, frame the shot, and take the perfect snap. Using a camera made Ansel feel like he was saving a part of his journey for later, without taking anything away from the landscape. Whenever he and his family took a break, his father would say, "Ansel, let me see how you saw that part of the trail! Show me your pictures." To his father's amazement, Ansel would always notice things that he had missed.
Sharing his photographs with his family was enough for Ansel. In fact, all he really wanted to do was to capture his hikes for later, so he could spend even more time appreciating the beauty of the natural world. One day, his father brought him a newsletter from Yosemite National Park. "Look Ansel! Yosemite National Park is having a Young Photographers contest. You should enter some of your pictures into it," his father explained.
"That sounds interesting, but my photos are just for me. I don't need anyone else to see them," Ansel said. He was busy looking at the map of a new trail he and his father were going to explore later that day.
"The goal of the contest is to help with conservation in the park. They think that photographs of the land will help visitors appreciate the park. You could really make a difference," his father continued. Ansel had never thought his photographs could help anyone, and he loved the idea of helping to protect the park by showing others its beauty. On their hike later that day, Ansel and his father stayed out a little longer so Ansel could take more photos as the light changed into the sunset. When they got home, Ansel asked his father to help him choose the best photograph to submit.
As the days went by, Ansel and his father continued enjoying the park whenever they could, always with Ansel's camera by his side. A week later, his father received a special phone call. Ansel had won one of the top spots in the photo competition! His picture was going to be featured on signs and in brochures about how to take care of the new trail they had hiked on that day. The park also invited Ansel to work with photographers from the park, who would teach him new techniques. Ansel was excited, on one condition, that his father could come too. The park agreed. Ansel's father knew that winning the competition was the start of big things for him.
