Buttermilk Creek, Ithaca, N.Y. 3d, or Pulpit Fall, 30 feet high 1860 - 1865

This is a stereoscopic card featuring two nearly identical albumen prints, which capture Buttermilk Creek in Ithaca, New York. J.C. Burritt has created an effect of depth in the image through the interplay of light and shadow. The cascading water is smooth and reflective, contrasting against the rough and textured rock formations. The composition invites a semiotic reading. The waterfall, a natural element, can be seen as a signifier of purity and the sublime. The stereoscopic presentation, a technological innovation, adds another layer of meaning, highlighting a shift in how perception and reality were being understood. The parallel images encourage the viewer to synthesize these dual perspectives into a unified experience. Ultimately, the work destabilizes our perception of space, prompting questions about the role of technology in mediating our understanding of the natural world and the very nature of sight.