American Photographers at the Turn of the Century: Travel & Trekking.

Five Corners, 1994. Photographs of Papua New Guinea by Gerald Appel. Other photographers, with pictures from China, France, Greece, Korea, Romania, Thailand, et al., include Roger Williams Archibald, Therman Bailey, Eileen Gardner Galer, Chloe B. Holmes, Steven C. Hankins, Jack Larrison, Christophe Pinard, Kay Shaw, Gordon Schalla, Joseph K. Schriefer, and Shirly E. Thomas. Fine hardcover with dust jacket. Summary:

Published by Five Corners Publications in 1994, American Photographers at the Turn of the Century: Travel & Trekking serves as both a historical record and a visual tribute to the pioneers of travel photography.

The book focuses on the period between the late 19th and early 20th centuries—a "Golden Age" of exploration where photography moved out of the studio and into the wild.

Core Themes and Scope

• The Transition of Technology: It chronicles the shift from cumbersome, large-format glass plate cameras to more portable equipment, which allowed photographers to document remote locations for the first time.

• Documenting the "Unknown": The collection highlights how photographers captured the American frontier, overseas expeditions, and the rapidly changing landscapes of a globalizing world.

• The Narrative of Adventure: Rather than just a dry gallery of photos, the book emphasizes the physicality of the craft. It details the "trekking" aspect—the grueling journeys via horse, boat, and foot required to get the perfect shot.

Featured Content

The volume showcases work from both iconic and lesser-known photographers, providing a diverse look at:

• Inigenous cultures and their evolving environments.

• The raw, industrial expansion of cities.

• Foreign lands (Egypt, the Orient, Papua New Guinea, and South America) that shaped the Western imagination at the time.

Significance

The book is highly regarded for its high-quality reproductions and for providing historical context that explains whythese images were taken. It effectively argues that these photographers were not just artists, but essential witnesses to a world on the brink of modern transformation.