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Explorations in American Environmental History Worksheet: Images of the West

Use this worksheet with Early Images of the Western United States.

Section I. Prints, lithographs and engravings

Choose one image from the collection.

• What special qualities related to landscape are revealed in your choice?
• Using your knowledge of historical development of the conservation movement, what does this image reveal about the time period?
• Consider historical and literary themes from the readings. What themes could be attributed to this early image?

Section II. Geographical Survey

Choose one image from this section. Describe what is beautiful about this image. Using nature study themes, write a short travel log paragraph which will appeal to a particular audience from this time period. Convince your audience of the aesthetic beauty of nature and its benefits.

Selected Image:

Title of your travel log

Section III. William Henry Jackson

Choose one photo and describe the Western philosophy that may have emerged as a result of this image.

Section IV. New photographic Techniques

Select one of the images in this section. Compare and contrast this early image with what you find on the Internet.

• What year was this image photographed?
• What photographic technique was used?
• Who has the copyright on the photo?
• What does the photo reveal about the site?

Section V: Present-Day Images

Look up the selected topic on the Internet. What sites do you find?

Compare the early photo with present images of the site.

• What changes have occurred in the landscape?
• What is the same?
• What is your perception of the contemporary image?
• What do you think may have changed philosophically as a result of time?

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