Sexton to Exhibit Photographs From ‘Quiet Life’ Book : Photography: A showing of 50 images by the former assistant to Ansel Adams will open today with a reception for the artist at the Susan Spiritus Gallery in Costa Mesa.

It’s very important to John Sexton that his photographs convey a quality of light that is soft, delicate and natural. And in his new book, “Quiet Light,” a 15-year retrospective of his work, he does just that.

Sexton, a former an assistant to Ansel Adams, also shows a dedication and creativity toward photographing nature. Even though his photographs are in the tradition of Adams, Sexton considers his landscape photographs to be more quiet and intimate than Ansel’s spectacular style. Sexton says Ansel-like shots “are just not me.”

A selection of photographs from Sexton’s book, “Quiet Light,” will be on exhibit at the Susan Spiritus Gallery in Costa Mesa through April 30. Sexton will attend an opening reception today at the gallery.

The 50 images were chosen from more than 4,000 of Sexton’s negatives--proof, he says, that a lot of photography is just editing. The single most important piece of equipment in his darkroom, Sexton says, is the trash can.

The images range from fairly traditional landscapes--such as “Merced River and Forest,” a shot of a rushing river in Yosemite Valley--to the more delicate approach he used in “Corn Lilies,” also taken in Yosemite. His close-up view of the flower-like plants displays depth and a subtle, tactile feel.

Sexton, who lives in Carmel Valley, uses black-and-white prints as his primary medium. Besides giving him wide latitude to use his darkroom and technical skills, the format allows for a relatively abstract departure from reality, using long exposures at dusk in many of his images to create a euphoric quality.

“A considerable amount of interpretation takes place in the darkroom,” Sexton, 36, said.

“There is something phenomenally beautiful about a black-and-white photograph. And it goes back to the first (photography) that ever excited me: black-and-white photographs by Ansel Adams, Edward Weston and Wynn Bullock.”

Before he first glimpsed their work in 1973, he said: “I had never seen any photographs like that, anywhere. They were images which brought tears to my eyes. And I wanted to learn how to do it.”

Sexton grew up in La Mirada and studied photography at Cypress College. After attending an Ansel Adams workshop in Yosemite, he was invited back as Adams’ assistant.

Sexton assisted Adams from 1979 until 1982, and continued to work as a technical consultant until Adams died in the spring of 1984. Sexton continues the tradition by working with the Ansel Adams Publishing Rights Trust.

“Quiet Light,” an exhibit of landscape photographs by John Sexton, continues through April 30 at the Susan Spiritus Gallery, 3333 Bear St. (in Crystal Court Mall), Costa Mesa. The gallery will host an opening reception today from noon to 4 p.m. Admission: free. Information: (714) 549-7550.