The Pioneer Photographer

ebook Rocky Mountain Adventures with a Camera · Regional History Series

By William Henry Jackson

cover image of The Pioneer Photographer

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The Pioneer Photographer is the story of William Henry Jackson’s love for the outdoors and of his adventurous life photographing the Rocky Mountain West during the late 1860s and 1870s. His meticulous descriptions of the rugged and treacherous landscapes, and the efforts required for capturing the images on glass plates, edify the reader about the enormous challenges presented by early photographic technology. Imagine hauling the 120 pounds of photography equipment into the rugged peaks of western wilderness. Pack mules hauled the cameras, lenses, and glass plates used to expose the pictures, as well as the chemicals required for sensitizing and developing the plates on the spot, not to mention the makeshift darkroom needed to perform the entire miracle. Most of Jackson’s photographs made during the U.S. geological surveys, led by Dr. Ferdinand V. Hayden in the 1870s, document the anglo American “discovery” of the Rocky Mountain West. The familiar picturesque scenes that we know today must have been awe-inspiring to these explorers of the West, although, of course, the American Indians of the region were well acquainted with its timeless beauty. In descriptions of the sublime natural world he encountered, Jackson recalls the day-to-day uncertainties, adversities and disappointments experienced on his photo documentary adventures. His language conveys excitement for his discoveries, as well as the frustration felt when weather was bad or work was lost. This book is a facsimile reprinting of the edition first published in 1929. The pages are reproductions of the original--all typos and errors are reproduced here as they originally appeared. This book is presented as a document of its time and should be evaluated by the reader in that context. Some of the words chosen by the authors, William Henry Jackson and Howard R. Driggs, may be considered offensive, even racist, applying today’s societal standards.
The Pioneer Photographer