Gezicht op bergspitsen bij de Middle Cathedral Rock in de Yosemite Valley before 1868

Carleton E. Watkins, a pioneer of American landscape photography, captured the grandeur of Yosemite Valley in this albumen print titled "Gezicht op bergspitsen bij de Middle Cathedral Rock in de Yosemite Valley." Taken before 1868, the photograph showcases the towering granite cliffs of Middle Cathedral Rock, a prominent landmark in Yosemite. Watkins's use of a large-format camera and meticulous printing techniques allowed him to capture the immense scale and detail of the natural world, bringing the beauty of the American West to a wider audience.