Lake George Islands (State land) 1891

Seneca Ray Stoddard’s photograph, "Lake George Islands (State land)," was created to accompany a report about the Forest Commision. This era saw the rise of the conservation movement in response to unchecked industrialization and exploitation of natural resources. Stoddard was not only a photographer but also a guide, writer, and mapmaker, deeply invested in promoting and preserving the Adirondack region. His work romanticized the landscape, encouraging tourism while also advocating for conservation. In this image, the islands of Lake George are presented as pristine and untouched. Yet, this representation obscures the complex history of land ownership and use, particularly the displacement of indigenous peoples and the ongoing struggle for environmental justice. Stoddard’s photographs contributed to constructing an image of the Adirondacks as a wilderness, which had very real consequences for the people who lived there. Consider how Stoddard’s lens shapes our understanding of nature and history. How do images like this influence our relationship with the environment today?