Gezicht op de voet van Grizzly Giant, een reuzensequoia in de Mariposa Grove before 1868

Carleton E. Watkins's "Gezicht op de voet van Grizzly Giant, een reuzensequoia in de Mariposa Grove" is a striking albumen print capturing the majesty of a giant sequoia tree in California's Mariposa Grove. Taken sometime before 1868, the photograph showcases Watkins's pioneering work in landscape photography, capturing the scale and grandeur of nature through a detailed, sharply focused image. The image's composition emphasizes the massive base of the tree, with its intricate roots and gnarled bark, suggesting a sense of awe and wonder in the face of such ancient and powerful natural forces. Watkins's work, like this photograph, helped shape public perception of the American West as a land of immense natural beauty and grandeur.