[Yosemite National Park, California] 1876 - 1880

Carleton E. Watkins's *[Yosemite National Park, California]* from 1876-1880, captures the grandeur of the Yosemite Valley in a circular format, emphasizing the scale of the towering granite cliffs. The photograph, now part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection, showcases Watkins's mastery of the albumen print process, a popular technique of the time. The image highlights the raw beauty of nature and the photographer's ability to capture the dramatic landscape with a sharp clarity.