The Giantess Geyser before 1887

Frank Jay Haynes made this silver print photograph of The Giantess Geyser, using a collodion negative. Photography, in its essence, is an indexical medium, capturing the real world through a chemical reaction on a treated surface. In the late 19th century, photographers like Haynes had to master darkroom techniques and understand the properties of light-sensitive materials. A collodion negative was made by coating a glass plate with a solution of collodion and light-sensitive silver salts, then exposing it in a camera. This process required precision and skill, marking a departure from earlier photographic methods. Haynes used this complex procedure to capture the natural wonder of the Giantess Geyser. By choosing photography, a medium closely tied to scientific observation and documentation, Haynes adds an element of authenticity to the image, inviting viewers to witness this natural spectacle.