Mission San Carlos Borroméo de Carmelo, Monterey County c. 1876 - 1878

Curator: This is Carleton Emmons Watkins' photograph, "Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo, Monterey County." Editor: Oh, it feels like a ghost story! That dilapidated mission...it just breathes with forgotten stories. Curator: Watkins was deeply invested in documenting the changing landscape of the American West. The mission, obviously in decline, highlights shifts in power and land use. Editor: It's the way the light catches the crumbling facade...it almost feels like the building itself is exhaling, a visual sigh. What were the photographic processes involved here? Curator: Watkins's use of collodion wet-plate photography was crucial. The process allowed for incredibly detailed images, capturing the texture of the stone and the surrounding landscape. Editor: It definitely makes the weight of history almost palpable. It's interesting how a simple image can carry such a complex narrative of change and loss. Curator: Indeed, it prompts us to consider the social impact of photography, and how Watkins shaped our understanding of the West through his lens. Editor: I'm glad we looked closer; it's always about layers, isn't it?