"Rosa's Bower" 1866

This stereograph, "Rosa's Bower," was created by Chas. Waldack to show the Mammoth Cave. The photographic print is mounted on card stock, a common format for distributing images, like postcards today. But note the title "Magnesium Light Views" running down the side. This alludes to the method by which the photo was made. This photo wasn't taken with natural light. It was created by igniting magnesium, an early form of flash photography. This allowed photographers to capture images in dark environments such as caves. The process was labor-intensive, requiring careful preparation and execution. The cave was illuminated by hand, the light meticulously placed, and the image carefully captured. Stereographs were a popular form of entertainment and education in the 19th century. They allowed people to experience faraway places and natural wonders from the comfort of their own homes. But think of the amount of invisible labor that went into this view. This image is not just a depiction of a cave formation, it's a testament to human ingenuity and the desire to explore and document the world around us.