JF Ptak Science Books   Quick Post

These are remarkable photos of folks standing at the edge of the world in Yosemite National Park.  They were made by George Fiske, a New Hampshire boy who left for San Francisco and moved to Yosemite at age 44 in 1879. He worked there for decades, producing beautiful and iconic work before running out of steam after the turn of the century, and in the end committing suicide in 1918 because as he said he lost interest in being alive.  

I came to Fiske today because of the dancing ladies, hanging out at the edge of the overhanging lock, a photo made by him in the 1890’s at Glacier Point in Yosemite. That led me to another photo that Fiske made of his co-author Galen Clark, made at the same place some years later at the same famous spot, in 1910.  

Detail of the dancing ladies, 1890’s:

And the full image:

And a clearer image Galen Clark:

[Image source:  wikipedia ]

Notes:

James Mason Hutchings, In the Heart of the Sierras (1888), with many illustrations including a number of photos by Fiske. Great digital copy at yosemite.ca.us here. 

Galen Clark, The Yosemite Valley (1910) with more photographs by Fiske.