The Three Brothers, Yosemite 1870 - 1874

This is Carleton Watkins’ photograph “The Three Brothers, Yosemite.” It presents a tripartite composition of water, trees, and mountains. The photograph’s sepia tones, combined with the soft focus, create a scene that feels both majestic and intimate. Watkins' work invites us to consider the concept of the sublime – that overwhelming sense of awe mixed with fear. In structuralist terms, the landscape elements function as signs, where the mountains represent permanence and grandeur, the water fluidity and change, and the trees a bridge between the two. The composition, however, is not merely representational; it’s a carefully constructed arrangement. Watkins has positioned the mountains to dominate the frame. This creates a visual hierarchy that asks viewers to reflect on the power of nature. Does this photograph reinforce or challenge established notions about the natural world? That question remains open. What's evident is how Watkins uses form to shape our understanding of space, scale, and our place within it.