✨AI Reimagines the Masters✨ Carleton Watkins|22/1000

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Introduce briefly

Carleton E. Watkins (1829–1916) was an American photographer known for his landscape photography, particularly of the American West. His photographs played a significant role in the preservation of Yosemite Valley as a National Park. Watkins' work captured the beauty and grandeur of the western landscape, providing important historical documentation before the rapid development of the region.

Early Life and Career:

Carleton E. Watkins was born on November 11, 1829, in Oneonta, New York [1].

In 1851, Watkins moved to San Francisco with his childhood friend Collis Huntington in search of gold [1].

Initially, Watkins worked in various jobs, including delivering supplies to mining operations and working as a store clerk [1].

Watkins became involved in photography when he started looking after the studio of a well-known Daguerreotypist, Robert H. Vance [1].

He quickly excelled in the art of photography and began his own photography business in 1858 [1].

Watkins gained recognition for his Daguerreotype stereoviews, particularly those taken at the New Almaden mercury mine near San Jose, California [1].

Photographing Yosemite:

In July 1861, Watkins made a pivotal decision to travel to Yosemite, where he captured some of his most iconic photographs [1].

He used a mammoth-plate camera, which used 18×22 inch glass plates, and a stereoscopic camera to capture depth and detail [1].

Watkins' photographs of Yosemite were among the first seen in the East and were highly praised for their unique and beautiful portrayal of the landscape [1].

His photographs of Yosemite played a crucial role in the preservation of the valley, influencing Congress to establish Yosemite as a National Park in 1864 [1].

Later Life and Legacy:

Watkins opened his own public gallery in 1867, known as the Yosemite Art Gallery, where he displayed his extensive collection of Pacific Coast views and stereoscopic images [1].

Unfortunately, Watkins faced financial difficulties and lost his gallery to his creditor in 1876 [1].

He continued to recreate his lost images, calling it the "New Series" [1].

Watkins' declining health and loss of sight in the 1890s led to a difficult period for him and his family [1].

He was eventually declared incompetent and spent his final years in the Napa State Hospital for the Insane, where he passed away in 1916 [1].

Watkins' photographs of Yosemite and the American West had a profound impact on the preservation of natural landscapes and are considered important historical documents [2].