Gezicht op Ribbon Fall waterval in Yosemite Valley, Californië before 1886

Isaiah West Taber made this photograph of Ribbon Fall in Yosemite Valley, using the wet collodion process. This photographic technique required coating a glass plate with light-sensitive chemicals, exposing it in the camera, and developing it immediately. The resulting negative could then be used to make multiple prints on paper. The tones in the image are achieved through chemical processes. They capture the grandeur of the natural landscape, showcasing its scale and texture. The making of photographs like this one was a time-consuming and labor-intensive process. It reflects a desire to document and promote the American West, linking industrial progress with the sublime beauty of nature. The image invites us to consider photography, not just as a means of representation, but as a handcrafted process deeply embedded in its time.