Rotsen langs de Llanberis Pass c. 1850 - 1880

Helmut Petschler made this stereoscopic photograph of Rotsen langs de Llanberis Pass using a camera and darkroom processing techniques. Photography has always been tied to capitalism. It allowed for mass production and distribution of images, making art and visual documentation accessible to a broader audience than ever before. Petschler's choice to capture the Llanberis Pass in Wales speaks to the burgeoning tourist industry of the 19th century, where people sought out picturesque landscapes. The photograph itself becomes a commodity, a souvenir of a journey. The making of a photograph involves a series of chemical processes and mechanical operations, from the careful preparation of the light-sensitive materials to the precise timing of the exposure. Each print required skill, precision, and time. Consider how the photograph flattens the landscape, turning a three-dimensional experience into a two-dimensional image. The material reality of the rocks and mountains is translated into a paper object, raising questions about authenticity and representation. Photography challenges traditional notions of art.