1870 images from the "wild west"

mr rusty · May 25, 2012

Some really interesting pictures again from our Daily Mail (I wish it wasn't otherwise such a sensationalist rag).

Someone on the paper is definitely into researching old photos.

Anyway, these from around 1870 by Timothy O'Sullivan documenting the "wild west" - some really good images here!

http://tinyurl.com/ctq7534

Jim Noel · May 25, 2012

Beautiful images, but the article is full of errors.
O'Sullivan did not use a "Box" camera, but usually a 20x24" camera with bellows.
The images are not sepia toned, but are more likely albumen prints from wet plate negatives.
There are other errors,but these are the two which hit me immediately.

Thank you for the link. The images are worth putting up with errors in the text.

cliveh · May 25, 2012

mr rusty said:
Some really interesting pictures again from our Daily Mail (I wish it wasn't otherwise such a sensationalist rag).

Someone on the paper is definitely into researching old photos.

Anyway, these from around 1870 by Timothy O'Sullivan documenting the "wild west" - some really good images here!

http://tinyurl.com/ctq7534

Interesting post, but was it worth having to reveal you're a Daily Mail reader?

mr rusty · May 25, 2012

Interesting post, but was it worth having to reveal you're a Daily Mail reader?

It *really* is a rag. 90% of the articles have errors in them - I despair at the quality of reporting, but as its "free news" I do look in most mornings, and most mornings wish afterwards that I hadn't bothered!

However, they keep running these "old photos" stories, which not only put up some interesting images, but also, I think, educate some people into the quality that was achieved with rudimentary equipment.

Klainmeister · May 25, 2012

The last shot of Santa Fe is kinda mind blowing...looked so very, very different.

Thomas Bertilsson · May 25, 2012

I think it's cool that they brought up these old photographs and posted them. It's a very interesting glimpse into days gone by, before we wrecked the planet.

Joe Lipka · May 25, 2012

mr rusty said:
It *really* is a rag. 90% of the articles have errors in them - I despair at the quality of reporting, but as its "free news" I do look in most mornings, and most mornings wish afterwards that I hadn't bothered!

However, they keep running these "old photos" stories, which not only put up some interesting images, but also, I think, educate some people into the quality that was achieved with rudimentary equipment.

Well, OK. Here's a link to the same article from Atlantic Monthly. It's a bit more of a high brow publication so you shouldn't feel so bad.

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

Old-N-Feeble · May 25, 2012

I really enjoyed the link... awesome imagery!!

Newt_on_Swings · May 25, 2012

I always love seeing photos of the west, great set. I always wanted to have a nice large format copy of O'Sullivan's and Curtis's work depicting the peoples and lands of America at the turn of the century, but I never see them outside of large libraries or museums. I bet they have to cost a pretty penny.

Thanks for the link!

Sirius Glass · May 25, 2012

Thanks for posting this.

paul_c5x4 · May 25, 2012

mr rusty said:
I despair at the quality of reporting, but as its "free news" I do look in most mornings, and most mornings wish afterwards that I hadn't bothered!

I hope you wash your hands thoroughly afterwards and remember to clean between the ears

TheFlyingCamera · May 26, 2012

Actually, to correct Jim Noel, most of the O'Sullivan images are 10x12, which is still plenty big when you think about him hauling around hundreds of glass plates. The original images are wet plate collodion negatives on glass plates, printed on albumen paper. There was a wonderful exhibition of his work about 2 or 3 years ago here in Washington DC at the Museum of American Art entitled "Picturing The West". Many of the images featured in that article were in the exhibit. I know it traveled after it left DC, but I forget where else it went. In any case, the exhibition catalog, of the same title, should still be available on Amazon.

Marco B · May 27, 2012

Thanks a lot for posting the link, very nice and interesting to watch.

1870 images from the "wild west"

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