ides an analysis of the complicated circumstances under which O'Sullivan worked, the images were made and geologic survey took place. In praising the photographic achievements of O'Sullivan, the photographer Trevor Paglen states, "Timothy O'Sullivan was also a spy satellite." This seemingly quizzical and provocative statement reminds us not only of O'Sullivan's relationship to the U.S. Army and government, but also to his relationship to technologies of surveillance and imaging that continue into the 21st century. While O'Sullivan probably never considered himself an artist in the contemporary sense, or a satellite, the images he created are still some of the most remarkable photographs of the 19th century and continue to challenge and confound us.
From the incredible tri-tone reproductions to the excellent essays, by Davis, Jane Aspinwall the co-curator, Mark Klett and others, this book is a remarkable publication. In addition to the seventy-plus large plates, the book also contains the complete catalogue raisonn� of the King survey � allowing us to study all the images and follow the development of O'Sullivan's work during the survey. As Davis argues, O'Sullivan�s work is of continued importance not only for the provocative questions his work raises about our understanding of 19th century photography and photography in general, but also because "his work is at once radiantly straightforward and laden with puzzles and anomalies. It is an achievement unlike anyone else's." (Davis, 91) Anyone interested in O'Sullivan, landscape and/or 19th century photography, or the development and exploration of American West should take a look at this beautiful book.
Adam Bell is a photographer and writer based in Brooklyn, NY. He received his MFA from the School of Visual Arts, and his work has been exhibited and published internationally. He is the co-editor and co-author, with Charles H. Traub and Steve Heller, of The Education of a Photographer (Allworth Press, 2006). His writing has appeared in Foam Magazine, Lay Flat and Ahorn Magazine. He is currently on staff and faculty at the School of Visual Arts' MFA Photography, Video and Related Media Department. His website and blog are adambbell.com and adambellphoto.blogspot.com.