Valley of the Yosemite from Mosquito Camp, No. 22 1872

Eadweard Muybridge captured the Valley of the Yosemite from Mosquito Camp in a photograph distinguished by its sepia tones. The image presents a wide view where the serene river dominates the foreground, reflecting the towering cliffs in the distance. Muybridge masterfully uses the river as a compositional tool, bisecting the scene to mirror the grandeur of the cliffs. This creates a symmetrical dialogue between the solid forms of nature and their liquid reflections. The photograph engages with notions of duality, the real versus the reflected, challenging our perception of space and form. The tonal range further enhances the contrast, emphasizing the play of light and shadow across the landscape. Ultimately, Muybridge’s photograph is more than a landscape; it is a study in the poetics of space, inviting us to reflect on how we perceive and construct our understanding of nature's sublime forms.