Raquette River at the Sweeny Carry 1891

This photograph, Raquette River at the Sweeny Carry, was taken by Seneca Ray Stoddard sometime in the late nineteenth or early twentieth century, and reproduced in a book. The image shows figures with a canoe, presumably in the Raquette River. As with any photograph, the making begins with light. Stoddard was a master of capturing the subtle gradations of tone, from the sunlit water to the deep shadows of the forest. But it’s important to remember that this image did not appear spontaneously. The photographer had to be there, with his equipment, to capture this scene. And then there is the labor of reproduction – the multiple steps of printing the image, and incorporating it into this book. Note the way that the photograph is carefully positioned next to the text. This was a deliberate act of design, meant to enhance the viewer’s understanding of the place. It reflects a real investment of time and effort. Ultimately, this image should prompt us to consider all the many hands that were involved in its making, and the wider culture of travel and tourism that it represents. It is a beautiful image, but also a testament to the power of photography as a tool of social and economic life.