A.J. Morris over at the Public Domain Photoblog posted this really cool photochrom from the early 1900’s. Judging from the angle it was taken at Artists Point along the old road from Mariposa. You could try to get the same shot today but unfortunately trees have did what trees do and now block the view from this vantage point. Here’s what A.J. had to say:
Public Domain Photoblog: Here is a photochrom image from right around 1900 of the majestic Yosemite Valley. This was the first really practical color photo technology, it produced images so real as to almost seem surreal. Here the rocks look hard, the water wet and the tiny opening in the canopy in the middle of the valley looks invitingly fresh, one can almost smell the pine forests and wild grasses.
This public domain photograph is by William Henry Jackson, one of the few historic photographers almost everybody is familiar with. We posted another image by Jackson earlier: Mule in Havana another beautiful photochrom. As we said there, so much has been written about W H Jackson there is little left for us to add, his work speaks for itself.
A.J. has a ton of other interesting photos that are in the public domain over on his blog so be sure to check it out.
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art, California, history, nature photography, photography, yosemite valley
Comments
One response to “Like a Ghost from the Past”
It’s really neat to look at that photo and think that my grandparents camped there in the early 1920’s, and the Valley View looked like that to them. Those were the days they took their own persian rug to make the floor of their canvas tent, and hauled a live goat with them, which later became a BBQ on a spit over the campfire. I’ve seen the photos from their early days in Yosemite. They continued the tradition (sans goat) until they were in their 80’s and 90’s, and all their sons and daughters and grandchildren have visited Yosemite every year since. Great stories and memories.