Bluff Island, Lower Saranac Lake 1893

Seneca Ray Stoddard made this photograph of Bluff Island on Lower Saranac Lake, New York, sometime in the late 19th century. It was a time when photography was becoming a powerful tool for shaping public perceptions of the environment. The image evokes the romantic ideals of the Hudson River School, which saw nature as sublime. But the photograph also served commercial interests, illustrating guidebooks and promotional materials that encouraged tourism to the Adirondacks, an area undergoing rapid development. The area became a playground for the wealthy. The image is a record of a changing landscape and reflects the complex interplay between aesthetics, commerce, and environmental change. By consulting sources such as local histories, tourism brochures, and environmental reports, we can gain a deeper understanding of the social and institutional forces that shaped both the landscape and its representation in art.