Pohono, Bridal Veil, 900 Feet, Yosemite 1861

Carleton Watkins made this albumen print of Yosemite’s Bridal Veil Falls in the 19th century, using a process that was as laborious as it was innovative. Watkins wasn't just pointing and shooting. He was wrestling with a portable darkroom, glass plates, and a whole chemistry set. The albumen printing process involved coating paper with egg whites and silver nitrate, creating a surface sensitive to light. Imagine the skill involved in producing such a detailed image in the field, far from the comforts of a studio. The tonal range achieved through this process gives the photograph a remarkable depth and texture. You can almost feel the cool mist of the waterfall and the rough texture of the granite cliffs. This wasn't just a snapshot, but a carefully crafted object intended to capture the sublime beauty of the American West. Watkins’s photographs were instrumental in convincing Congress to designate Yosemite as a national park in 1864, reminding us that the tools and processes of art-making can be powerful agents for social and political change.