One
of his best known photographs is Cathedral Rock, taken in the 1860s, an
Albumen print now in the Metropolitan Museum of
Art.b 1829; d. 1916
A prolific and outstanding American photographer, Watkins was famous for his panoramic views. In the early 1860s he explored the Yosemite Valley to take photographs. At that time, of course, sensitising, exposing and processing had to be done on the spot, so he had taken with him twelve mules for his equipment, together with a converted wagon, which became his dark room. He used huge glass plates measuring 40 by 50 centimetres.
One
of his best known photographs is Cathedral Rock, taken in the 1860s, an
Albumen print now in the Metropolitan Museum of
Art.