Field and Studio: Western Hunting Photography - Virtual Exhibit

• Donald C. & Elizabeth M. Dickinson Research Center
• Back to Virtual Exhibit Front Page

• Hunters With Their Kills
• Hunting Camps
• Posed Commercial Photographs

Untitled [Aged hunter with his stuffed menagerie] Mounted silver gelatin print Photographer unknown, ca. 1885 2002.117	This elderly hunter has transported his collection of hunting trophies to the photography studio to commemorate his life-long passion. The stuffed bear cub and fawn, almost hidden behind the larger deer, bespeaks the hunting ethics of another time. The chain leash behind the fox may indicate that it is alive, although this seems doubtful. The old hunter is holding a Model 1873 Winchester rifle. Is it possible that he, himself, was a taxidermist in earlier years?

The caption on the back of this photograph indicates that Thomas Hills (left) was an avid hunter, primarily in the Riding Mountains of western Manitoba. Here, Hills and an unknown man pose in a photography studio with two large trophy elk. Hills is holding a Model 1895 Winchester sporting rifle and his younger companion is holding a European sporting rifle. Thomas Hills died in 1924.	Untitled [Thomas Hills poses with two trophy elk] Mounted silver gelatin print Photographer unknown, Manitoba, Canada, ca. 1900 2003.093

Untitled [Douglas, Wyoming hunting party] Mounted silver gelatin print Photographer unknown, Douglas, Wyoming, ca. 1910 2003.169	A hunting party of five men photographed in the business district of Douglas, Wyoming, just before departure. The presence of a pack of greyhounds suggests these men were hunting coyotes or some other predator. The photograph, which was taken with snow on the ground, shows the West in transition; notice the presence of electric power lines and the absence of motorized vehicles or tire tracks.

These two young hunters are displaying half-stock, percussion sporting rifles almost as tall as they are. The gun on the left is heavily ornamented with silver and would have been quite expensive. Both young hunters are wearing large leather game bags and powder horns around their necks, although only the powder horn on the right is visible.	Untitled [Two young hunters with rifles and game bags] Carte de visite Photographer unknown, ca. 1865 2003.196

Untitled [Hunter in buckskins with pistol and rifle] Cabinet card photograph Charles D. Kirkland, Cheyenne, Wyoming, ca. 1884 2003.206	Noted Colorado and Wyoming photographer and photographic paper manufacturer Charles D. Kirkland took this studio portrait of a hunter. The man is wearing a stylish buckskin coat and pant ensemble with stitched or beaded decoration. He is also wearing a holster, cartridge belt, and pistol. The evident lack of wear on these items suggests they may be studio props and the subject more dude than hunter. The man is holding a Model 1876 Winchester rifle.

This hunter is holding a double-barrel shotgun and has a large macramé game bag around his neck. The photograph’s most unusual aspect is the trophy deer head and partial cape he is holding under his arm. Although it is not uncommon for hunters to pose with their trophies, actually holding the trophy in this way is quite unique. Also notice that the photographer has lightly rouged the cheeks of the hunter in this portrait.	Untitled [Hunter with shotgun, game bag, and deer head] Tintype Photographer unknown, ca. 1885 2004.092

Untitled [Georgia Gray, female hunter with dog] Cabinet card photograph E. Hamel, Lexington, Nebraska, ca. 1890 2004.158	Stylishly dressed hunter Georgia Gray poses in the studio with her sleeping hunting dog and Stevens Ideal rifle.

This is a studio portrait of a father and two sons with their rifles. The man is holding a Model 1876 Winchester rifle, the boy in the middle is holding a Model 1873 Winchester rifle, and the boy on the left is holding what appears to be a buggy or pocket rifle or possibly an air rifle. The man is dressed like a farmer and the two boys have a delightful “Huck Finn” look with their hats, knickers, and bare feet.	Untitled [Hunter and two sons with rifles] Tintype Photographer unknown, ca. 1895 2005.005

Untitled [Hunter with military percussion musket] Cased ambrotype Photographer unknown, ca. 1855 2005.007	This nattily dressed hunter is holding a military-style percussion rifle musket. The case is made of a thermoplastic, often called gutta percha, which was one of the first of the natural plastics to be used commercially. An ambrotype image such as this is actually a glass negative made positive by placing it in front of a black background; it is also a lateral reverse image, in other words, a mirror image of the actual photographed scene (thus, the lockplate appears to be on the left—wrong—side of the weapon).