Leaves

I've been comparing images, this evening.  The Ansel Adams Gallery has an excellent online gallery featuring images from America's National Parks.  I thought there might be a chance the gallery would contain elements of The Mural Project -- and for a minute there, late this fine evening, I thought this was it.

Check out the third image from the end, "Leaves, Glacier Bay."  It's gorgeous, naturally.

Now, check out the National Archives' image of a similar name (right): 

It's possibly less gorgeous when displayed at the Archives' full size, but here, displayed at comparable size to the Gallery's presentation, there appears to be more detail.  It certainly possesses greater contrast.

It may be worthwhile to compare both to the image on display at DOI.gov (below).  This fresh scan of the Archives' print (perhaps a visit to the National Archives is in order -- what are the odds they'll let me see the original, to compare to the Interior images?) has perhaps less contrast than the Gallery's image (the major leaf is certainly less exposed), but it contains remarkable detail.

In the end, these are of three images based on two distinct negatives (probably scanned from two distinct prints).  I hope I can be forgiven my momentary confusion, bone-headed though it might have been.

They are each remarkable works.

Leaves