The Royal Gorge 1879 - 1892

This stereograph of the Royal Gorge, was created by William Henry Jackson using the wet collodion process. In this photographic technique, a glass plate is coated with chemicals, exposed in a large format camera, and developed immediately. This process renders extraordinary detail; here we see the texture and sheer scale of the towering rock formations rendered in shades of gray. The railroad tracks hugging the bottom of the gorge testify to human impact, which is a poignant contrast to the natural grandeur of the landscape. Consider the labor involved: from the physical demands of carrying heavy equipment in the field, to the precise chemistry required for developing the image, the entire undertaking was technical and demanding. Beyond its aesthetic value, this image also speaks to broader narratives of industrial development, the taming of the American West, and the role of photography in shaping public perception of these endeavors. It bridges the gap between art, documentation, and the hard realities of progress.