Landscape photography is the supreme... (#17)

“Landscape photography is the supreme test of the photographer—and often the supreme disappointment.” ~Ansel Adams

Portraiture is probably what most people would think is the hardest type of photography, however, landscape photography can be hard too. With portraiture, the photographer can tell the subject what to do/how to be positioned, and sometimes the subject will do stuff on their own that will produce a great photograph. However, which landscapes, that can't really happen. all the photographer has is what's in front of them. So, it is up to the photographer to come up with creative ways of photographing the landscape that will be interesting to others and will say something to them. I'm not sure if Ansel Adams is saying that it is the "supreme disappointment" to the photographer is their photos don't turn out, or if it is a disappointment to viewers. I could see it being upsetting to the photographer because it is normal to be upset when your own stuff doesn't turn out. I suppose if you were a really well known photographer and your stuff didn't turn out well, others would be disappointed.