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Timothy H. O’Sullivan

Timothy H. O’Sullivan created these majestic views of Shoshone Falls in the context of the Wheeler Survey, a multi-year geographic expedition whose efforts to map the territory west of the meridian represented an important step in opening the area to colonial and commercial exploitation. Shoshone Falls had long served as an important fishing and trading site for the Lemhi Shoshone and Bannock peoples. Taller than Niagara, its rushing cascades captured the imagination of American surveyors and offered an attractive subject for field photographers like O’Sullivan, who accompanied the expedition with carts of chemicals, glass plates, and other related equipment. To create the picture above, O’Sullivan used a long lens to enhance the fall’s sublime aspect, leaving the viewer suspended over a foaming abyss. The sensuous greys and whites of the cascading water contrast with the rich detail in the rocky background, showcasing both the spectacle of nature and the precision of the camera.