Group of does, State forest (Catskills) 1893

This photograph of a "Group of does, State forest (Catskills)" was taken by Seneca Ray Stoddard, though we don’t have an exact date for when it was made. Stoddard was a prolific photographer, well known for his images of the Adirondack mountains. He made a career documenting the landscape for tourists, at a time when photographic processes were becoming more portable. In this gelatin silver print, notice how the stark contrast emphasizes the deer against the shadowed forest. This wasn't just an aesthetic choice, the process of photography in the 19th century – the exposure times, development techniques, and the limitations of the equipment – all impacted the final image. Stoddard wasn't just an artist; he was a businessman. His photographs were made to be consumed, reproduced as postcards and in travel guides. So, think about the social context: tourism, westward expansion, and the changing relationship between humans and the natural world, all captured in a single, reproducible image.