Carleton Watkins: Making the West American

Carleton Watkins was an American photographer who is best known for his images of the American West. His work helped to shape the way that people saw the West, and his photographs are still celebrated today for their beauty and historical significance.

Watkins was born in New York in 1829. He began his career as a daguerreotypist, but he soon switched to photography after the invention of the wet collodion process in 1851. In 1861, he traveled to California, where he was immediately captivated by the beauty of the Yosemite Valley. He spent the next several years photographing the Yosemite Valley and the surrounding Sierra Nevada mountains.

Carleton Watkins: Making the West American

by Tyler Green

4.7 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	34389 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	593 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE

Watkins's photographs of Yosemite are some of the most iconic images of the American West. They capture the grandeur and beauty of the landscape, and they helped to make Yosemite a popular tourist destination. Watkins's photographs also played a role in the establishment of Yosemite National Park in 1890.

In addition to his photographs of Yosemite, Watkins also photographed other parts of the American West, including the giant sequoia trees of California and the Colorado River. His photographs helped to document the westward expansion of the United States, and they provide a valuable record of the American frontier.

Watkins's work had a profound impact on the way that people saw the American West. His photographs helped to create a romantic image of the West, and they inspired many people to visit the region. Watkins's photographs also played a role in the conservation movement, and they helped to raise awareness of the importance of protecting the American wilderness.

Carleton Watkins was a pioneering photographer who helped to shape the way that people saw the American West. His photographs are still celebrated today for their beauty and historical significance, and they continue to inspire people to explore the American wilderness.

Further Reading

• The Carleton Watkins website
• Carleton Watkins: The Art of Photography in the American West
• Carleton Watkins: Making the West American

Image Gallery

The following is a gallery of some of Carleton Watkins's most famous photographs.

Carleton Watkins: Making the West American

by Tyler Green

4.7 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	34389 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	593 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE