Outline View of the Half Dome, 4967 Feet 1861

Carleton Watkins's "Outline View of the Half Dome, 4967 Feet" (1861) is a breathtaking, large-format photograph that showcases the grandeur of Yosemite National Park. Watkins, a pioneer of landscape photography, employed a wet collodion process to capture the majestic Half Dome, rising dramatically in the background, its peak obscured by clouds. The foreground is dominated by towering pines and the lush vegetation that characterizes Yosemite's valley, creating a sense of scale and perspective. Watkins's detailed composition underscores the dramatic and awe-inspiring beauty of this natural wonder.