Ansel Adams collection donated to Huntington Library

SAN MARINO, Calif. (KABC) -- The Huntington Library is celebrating one of its newest additions - a complete collection of work from famed photographer Ansel Adams.

Adams was best known for his images of Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada, but his decades of work captured much more than that. From 1948 to 1976, Adams created seven limited edition portfolios all containing a dozen or more photos.

Barbara Barrett-Byrne said her late husband George collected all seven of those portfolios. He was a student of the legendary photographer and a member of the Sierra Club. Before his death last year, the Byrnes decided to donate the complete portfolio to the Huntington Library.

"I said, you know, this is the perfect place. And, as it turned out, it is the perfect place," Barrett-Byrne said as she admired the museum.

Adams was known for his unique photography, from his studied nature shots to pipes and gauges in West Virginia. He was thought to be an exacting photographer in the field and in the darkroom.

He elevated photography to a fine art and devoted years to sharing his passion and talent with countless students.

The portfolio will be carefully conserved at the library and a long-anticipated exhibition will be planned. For updates on future exhibits featuring Adams' art, visit the Huntington Library's website.