Carleton Watkins: Pioneer of Landscape Photography
Early Life and Origins (1829-1851)
- Born: November 11, 1829, in Oneonta, New York.
- Carleton E. Watkins was the eldest of eight children born to John and Julia Watkins, a carpenter and an innkeeper respectively.
- He enjoyed a rural upbringing, developing skills as a hunter and fisherman, and participating in local activities like the glee club and Presbyterian church choir.
- In 1851, driven by the allure of fortune, Watkins journeyed to San Francisco with his childhood friend, Collis Huntington.
Early Career & Photographic Beginnings (1851-1861)
- Though initially unsuccessful in finding gold, both Watkins and Huntington found success in their respective fields.
- Watkins began working as a supply deliverer for mining operations before becoming a store clerk at George Murray’s bookstore.
- A pivotal moment: An unexpected vacancy at the studio of daguerreotypist Robert H. Vance led Watkins to an apprenticeship, despite having no prior photographic experience.
- He quickly mastered the art form, surpassing his instructor and establishing a reputation for quality work.
- By 1858, Watkins established his own photography business, undertaking commissions like illustrating California for James Mason Hutchings and documenting mining estates.
Yosemite & the Mammoth Plate Era (1861-1867)
- The turning point: In July 1861, Watkins traveled to Yosemite Valley, equipped with his mammoth-plate camera (using 18x22 inch glass plates) and a stereoscopic camera.
- He captured some of the first detailed photographs of Yosemite, showcasing its grandeur to an eastern audience.
- These images were instrumental in convincing Congress to preserve Yosemite Valley as a national park – a testament to the power of visual documentation.
- In 1864, he was commissioned by the California State Geological Survey to photograph Yosemite.
- He opened his first public gallery in 1867 and exhibited at the Universal Exposition in Paris, earning a medal for his work.
Success, Setbacks & Later Life (1867-1916)
- Watkins’ “Yosemite Art Gallery” displayed over a hundred large Pacific Coast views and thousands of stereoscopic images.
- Business Challenges: Despite artistic success, Watkins struggled with business management and lost his gallery to creditor J.J. Cook, who then reproduced his work without credit due to the lack of copyright laws for photographs at the time.
- He responded by creating a “New Series” of images, attempting to reclaim his artistic vision.
- Watkins married Frances Sneed in 1879 and had two children: Julia (born 1881) and Collis (born 1883).
- Progressive eyesight loss hampered his work in the 1890s, culminating in an inability to complete a commission from Phoebe Hearst.
Final Years & Legacy
- Financial hardship led the Watkins family to live in a railroad car for eighteen months.
- The 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire destroyed his studio, along with countless photographs and negatives.
- Watkins retired to Capay Ranch and was declared incompetent in 1910, entering the Napa State Hospital for the Insane.
- Death: He died in 1916 and was buried in an unmarked grave on hospital grounds.
- Watkins’ legacy endures as a pioneer of landscape photography, whose images not only captured the beauty of the American West but also played a crucial role in its preservation.
