Untitled c. 1884

This photograph of a landscape was taken by F. Jay Haynes, though we don’t know exactly when. The photograph uses a sepia tone which casts a warm, antique feel, emphasizing texture and detail. The composition is dominated by a steep, ascending diagonal line, drawing the eye upwards from the vegetation in the foreground to the rocky summit of the mountain. This creates a sense of scale and depth. The railway track cuts horizontally across the frame, contrasting the natural verticality of the trees. Haynes uses light and shadow to model the form of the mountain, highlighting its rugged texture and the density of the forest. The overall structure balances the mass of the mountain against the delicate, organic shapes of the trees. This play with formal elements such as line and texture not only captures a landscape, but also evokes a sense of monumentality. The photograph invites us to contemplate the sublime power of nature.