Hutchings Hotel, Yosemite - Early photography, Public domain image

Carleton E. Watkins (American, 1829–1916)

The albumen silver print is a photographic printing process that was widely used in the 19th century. It involves coating paper support with a mixture of egg whites and salt, which creates a glossy surface to hold light-sensitive silver salts. The paper is then sensitized in a solution of silver nitrate, and exposed in a camera or under a negative. After exposure, the print is developed in a solution of gallic acid and silver nitrate, which reduces the silver salts to metallic silver and creates the final image. The albumen print process was widely used for commercial and fine art photography in the 19th century and produced high-quality, detailed images with a distinctive glossy finish.

albumen silver prints hutchings hotel hutchings hotel yosemite prints 19th century high resolution ultra high resolution albumen prints early photography carleton watkins yosemite yosemite national park nature metropolitan museum of art california

1876

Metropolitan Museum of Art

http://www.metmuseum.org/

Public Domain Dedication (CC0)