Gezicht op Yosemite Valley c. 1872

Eadweard Muybridge made this photograph of Yosemite Valley using the collodion process, a technique involving light-sensitive chemicals and glass plates. To truly appreciate this image, consider the labor involved. Each photograph necessitated transporting a darkroom tent, glass plates, and hazardous chemicals into the wilderness. The collodion process itself demanded meticulous skill, with the photographer needing to coat, sensitize, expose, and develop the plate, all before it dried. Given that the exposure time could be several seconds, capturing a still image of a landscape was a considerable task, and any breeze could ruin an otherwise beautiful image. Photographs like this played a crucial role in the history of American landscape art. Before the widespread use of photography, images of the West were only available through paintings, but the popularization of photography democratized the art world, while romanticizing the natural landscape of Yosemite Valley. By understanding the materials, processes, and cultural context of Muybridge's work, we gain a deeper appreciation for the significance of photography as a vital tool in shaping perceptions of the American West.