Accession Number
1997/1.173

Title
Down the Valley, Yosemite, California

Artist(s)
Carleton Emmons Watkins

Artist Nationality
American (North American)

Object Creation Date
circa 1861, printed 1866-1906

Medium & Support
albumen print on paper

Dimensions
8 1/4 in x 11 7/8 in (20.9 cm x 30.2 cm);16 in x 20 in (40.64 cm x 50.8 cm)

Credit Line
Gift of Margaret and Howard Bond

Subject matter
Shot at the center of a grassy field, this photograph shows a long view of Yosemite’s valley floor.  Arranged at the far edge of the field, a line of coniferous and deciduous trees faces the viewer.  Sloping in on either side of the image, craggy, tree-dotted cliffs arch into the frame. This central composition emphasizes the visual sensation of being at the bottom of a valley, surrounded by high ridges. The cliffs in the distance seem to all but fade into the sky, enveloped by a warm, atmospheric haze. This warmth, paired with the sharp focus of the image, causes the verdant features of the landscape to gleam in crisp detail.

Physical Description
Photographed from ground level, this image depicts a wide view of a valley floor surrounded by tall cliffs on either side.

Primary Object Classification
Photograph

Collection Area
Photography

Rights
If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit http://umma.umich.edu/request-image for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.

Keywords
California
Landscapes
Yosemite Valley
cliffs
fields (land)
mountains
natural landscapes
nature photography
pines
trees
valleys
valleys (landforms)