Vernal Fall, Yosemite 1865 - 1866

Carleton Watkins's "Vernal Fall, Yosemite" (1865-1866) is a striking albumen print capturing the dramatic beauty of the Yosemite Valley. Watkins, a pioneer of American landscape photography, used a large-format camera to create this detailed image, emphasizing the sheer scale and grandeur of the waterfall. The photograph's long exposure, evident in the blurred water, further enhances the sense of movement and power. "Vernal Fall" showcases Watkins's mastery of photographic technique and his ability to capture the sublime natural world of California. It is now housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.