Kulu Valley, From Munglaor c. 1867

Editor: Here we have Samuel Bourne's "Kulu Valley, From Munglaor," a photograph of impressive scale. It feels almost like a document of labor, seeing those tiny structures clinging to the hillside. What stands out to you? Curator: I see the hand of man shaping the landscape. Look at the terraced fields, evidence of intensive cultivation. Bourne's process, using collodion wet plates, demanded immense labor in a challenging environment. Consider the social context: what does this view, created by a British photographer, tell us about colonial India and its resources? Editor: That's a great point. The labor involved in both creating the image and shaping the landscape is immense. It definitely shifts my perspective. Curator: Indeed. Thinking about the material and the process allows us to deconstruct the image, and consider the social and political implications.