North and South Dome, Yosemite 1870 - 1874

Carleton E. Watkins's "North and South Dome, Yosemite" from 1870-1874 is a large format albumen print capturing the grandeur of Yosemite National Park. Watkins, a pioneer in landscape photography, utilized the "mammoth plate" process to create images that showcase the immense scale of the natural world. The photograph depicts the iconic North and South Domes, towering over a serene river. The use of a wide-angle lens emphasizes the vastness of the Yosemite Valley, a testament to Watkins's ability to capture the raw beauty of nature.