The Yosemite Valley from the Mariposa Trail 1865 - 1866

Carleton Watkins' "The Yosemite Valley from the Mariposa Trail" (1865-66) is a stunning example of 19th-century landscape photography. Taken during the period when Yosemite Valley was first becoming a popular tourist destination, Watkins' large-format photograph captures the dramatic beauty of the valley with its towering granite cliffs, dense forests, and cascading waterfalls. Watkins' meticulous attention to detail and innovative photographic techniques created images that were both scientifically accurate and aesthetically captivating. His work helped to popularize the Yosemite Valley and contributed to the preservation of the region as a national park.