The American West, 150 Years Ago

[pokerfan]

In the 1860s and 70s, photographer Timothy O'Sullivan created some of the best-known images in American History. After covering the U.S. Civil War, (many of his photos appear in this earlier series), O'Sullivan joined a number of expeditions organized by the federal government to help document the new frontiers in the American West. The teams were comprised of soldiers, scientists, artists, and photographers, and tasked with discovering the best ways to take advantage of the region's untapped natural resources. O'Sullivan brought an amazing eye and work ethic, composing photographs that evoked the vastness of the West. He also documented the Native American population as well as the pioneers who were already altering the landscape. Above all, O'Sullivan captured -- for the first time on film -- the natural beauty of the American West in a way that would later influence Ansel Adams and thousands more photographers to come. (34 photos)





http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2012/05/the-american-west-150-years-ago/100304/

[murielm99]

1. Breathtaking

Thank you.

[drm604]

2. Wow

There are some amazing photos at that link. Thank you.

[lpbk2713]

3. An excellent collection.

I almost felt I was there and then.

[PatSeg]

4. Just imagine what it was

like for the first settlers. It surely was unlike anything they'd ever seen or even imagined before. It is both inspiring and intimidating.

[truedelphi]

9. I think it is very hard for us to understand

Here was a brand "new" continent, with endless varieties of animal species and birds, and vistas of unbroken trees, plants and brush. Even the vast "empty" prairies had native grasses growing over seven feet tall.

Where I live in Northern Calif., we still have bobcat, cougar, coyote and foxes. And otters down at the lake. Hawks and eagles soar overhead.

But this is nothing to what was here one hundred and seventy years ago. I would love to go back through Time Travel and visit a Pomo Indian village, where they had bear rugs for warmth, and carried on not only agricultural efforts, but even fish agriculture! If not injured or killed in hunting accidents, the Pomo were so healthy they lived to be one hundred or more. (Before the arrival of all the white man's diseases.)

[PatSeg]

13. When I first drove through the west

I was overwhelmed by the vastness of it and I continually tried to imagine how it appeared to early pioneers. For us, we've seen pictures and movies, so we have some point of reference, but there was nothing equivalent in the east or in Europe 150 to 200 years ago.

I'm not familiar with Pomo Indians. Are there any left in Northern California?

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

14. I think one of the highlights would be getting to see

native americans for the first time...
then holdig up a piece of parchment and saying, "You guys see this piece of paper? This says that I now own the land right here. I'm going to have ask you to get off my land."

[progressoid]

5. Back in the 80's I met Mark Klett who conceived the Re-Photographic Survey Project

They returned to the site of 120 of these photographs over 100 years later. Something that is quite popular now.

Cool stuff.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rephotography

[jaysunb]

6. Fantastic ! n/t

[slackmaster]

7. Tag for later

[frylock]

8. wow. thanks for sharing!

[shraby]

10. One word..wow!

[dhill926]

11. stunning.....

bookmarking this puppy.....thanks!

[WillyT]

12. HUGE K & R !!! - Thank You !!!

[Egalitarian Thug]

15. K&R. Very cool. n/t

[gateley]

16. Wow. Can you imagine what it was like for them to see this majesty? Wow! nt

[HiPointDem]

17. It looks like there's a black guy with Sullivan's party. And in the posed photo of Indian men,

several are wearing jeans a/o storebought pants a/o what look to be Hudson's Bay-type blankets. Plus the hats look storebought too.

[intheflow]

21. I saw that, too!

Very interesting, a desegregated survey team. I wonder what his role was.

[Scurrilous]

18. K & R

[AsahinaKimi]

19. I love historic photos

I noticed there were two, taken in Utah, both in big and little cotten wood canyon. I have been to both those places, in winter, for skiing. Its still an amazing place to see. Some of the largest mountains I have ever seen up close were in Utah. These photos do inspire tales of the old west, and many a Western movie has tried to reproduce the shape of the land back then. Some of those mining towns reproduced in old films... The West is truly an amazing place.

[intheflow]

20. Gorgeous! Beautiful detail!

This photographer was a true artist. Even so, I bet the folks back home couldn't image how vivd the colors are in reality.