Section of the Grizzly Giant, Mariposa Grove, Yosemite 1861

Carleton E. Watkins’s 1861 photograph, "Section of the Grizzly Giant, Mariposa Grove, Yosemite," captures the awe-inspiring scale of the giant sequoia trees in Yosemite National Park. Watkins's use of the human figure standing at the base of the giant sequoia emphasizes its immense size, showcasing the natural wonders of the American West to a wide audience. This photograph, now in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, is a prime example of Watkins's mastery of the mammoth plate photography technique, which allowed him to create large-scale, highly detailed images of the American landscape.