The Sentinels, 315 feet, Yosemite 1870 - 1874

Carleton E. Watkins’s monumental photograph, "The Sentinels, 315 feet, Yosemite," (1870-1874) captures the sheer scale and majesty of the giant sequoia trees in Yosemite National Park. Watkins, a pioneer of landscape photography, used the large-format camera to document the natural wonders of the American West. This image, now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, showcases Watkins’s ability to convey the immensity of nature, emphasizing the grandeur of the sequoias and the insignificance of the small structures in the foreground. The dramatic perspective emphasizes the towering heights of the trees, their intricate bark, and the overall awe-inspiring beauty of the Californian wilderness.