The Sentinel, 315 feet 1865 - 1866

Carleton E. Watkins's "The Sentinel, 315 feet" is a striking 19th-century photograph showcasing a giant sequoia tree in California's Yosemite Valley. Taken during Watkins's extensive photographic documentation of the American West, the image captures the majestic scale of nature and highlights the dramatic beauty of the Sierra Nevada mountains. The photograph captures the imposing presence of the tree, dwarfed only by the surrounding forest and a small building in the foreground. "The Sentinel, 315 feet" is a testament to Watkins's pioneering photographic techniques and his lasting contribution to the history of landscape photography.