[The Nile in front of the Theban Hills]

Public domain photograph by John Beasley Greene, 19th-century artistic photography, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

John Beasley Greene was an American photographer, born in 1832 in Bath, New York. He is best known for his photographs of the American West, particularly California, which he visited several times in the 1850s and 1860s. He was one of the first photographers to document the landscapes, people, and towns of the American West. He is considered one of the pioneering photographers of California, and his photographs of the mining towns, Yosemite Valley, and the California coast are considered some of the most important early photographs of the state.

Greene was also a skilled printer, and he made many of his own prints, achieving a high level of technical excellence. He also used the wet-plate process which was a popular photographic technique in the 19th century. His photographs were exhibited at various international exhibitions and were widely acclaimed for their beauty and artistry. He died in 1856 in California but his legacy continues to be celebrated as one of the most accomplished and respected photographers of his time. His photographs are considered an important record of the American West in the 19th century and are highly valued by museums and collectors.