Wednesday, July 30, 2014

CARLETON WATKINS ~





CARLETON WATKINS

1829-1916






Carleton Watkins traveled west in the 1850’s in search of gold. Instead of finding gold, however, he became known for his photographs of Yosemite, the Big Trees, and other natural wonders, mainly in California. He visited the Valley and Big Trees areas seven times, the first trip being in 1861. Watkins was the main photographer for the California Geological Survey in 1864-65. Survey members eventually named the peak above Mirror Lake, Mount Watkins, in his honor. He was also well known for his “mammoth” camera. It was, when extended, three feet long and thirty inches wide and could produce a negative as large as 20x24 inches. He also carried a stereo view camera. These cameras, as well as tripods, glass plates, portable darkroom, etc. weighed as much as 2,000 pounds and had to be transported by mule. Ralph Waldo Emerson decided that Watkins photographs of the Grizzly Giant “made the tree possible," for these photographs provided evidence of its existence. He lost his studio in the San Francisco earthquake in 1906, and passed on in 1916
               




Image, Source: b&w film copy neg.

Half Dome, Yosemite National Park





Yosemite Valley – 1866




Image, Source: b&w film copy neg.

Cathedral Rock and spire, with lake and trees in foreground,

Yosemite National Park, Calif. – 1860




Image, Source:

Bridalveil Fall, Yosemite National Park, Calif. – 1865-66





Image, Source: b&w film copy neg.

Bridalveil Fall, Yosemite National Park, Calif. – 1860



  

Image, Source: b&w film copy neg.

Cathedral Spires, Yosemite National Park, Calif. – 1860





Image, Source:

Stream and trees with Half Dome in background, Yosemite Valley, Calif. – 1865-66





Image, Source: b&w film copy neg.

Stream and trees with Nevada Fall in background, Yosemite National Park, Calif. – 1860

  

 

Mirror View of El Capitan

Mirror View of El Capitan - 1872




Grizzly Giant / C. Watkins

Part of the Trunk of the Grizzley Giant, Mariposa, California – 1861

[Individual in foreground is Galen Clark]





Mariposa Grove / C. Watkins

Grizzly Giant, Mariposa Grove – 1861





Yosemite Panorama / C. Watkins

Yosemite Valley Panorama





1st View of Valley / C. Watkins

First View of the Valley – 1866





Agassiz Column / C. Watkins

Agassiz Column - Date Unknown





6. View down the valley from Union point, Yosemite

View down the Valley from Union point, Yosemite – Date Unknown




9. The Yosemite falls

The Yosemite Falls – Date Unknown





Washington Column – Date Unknown






Flume Nevada Co, Cal.




 

(Stanford, 2014)