Hell's Half Acre, Firehole River 1884

F. Jay Haynes made this photograph of Hell's Half Acre in Yellowstone using a large-format camera and glass plate negatives, a process which demanded patience, skill, and physical endurance. Haynes was one of the first to take advantage of the emerging tourist industry in the American West, lugging his equipment through the wilderness to capture stunning images. Look closely at the tonal range of the print and the way it renders the textures of the rock formations, water, and steam, and notice the almost surreal quality of the landscape. Photographs like this helped to fuel the popular imagination, enticing travelers and contributing to the mythology of the West. Haynes's commercial success was intertwined with the rapid expansion of railroads and the growing appetite for leisure and adventure. He captured not just a place, but a moment in American history when the wilderness was both a source of wonder and a commodity to be consumed.