The Manirung Pass

Samuel Bourne's "The Manirung Pass" transports us to the rugged, awe-inspiring Himalayas through the lens of one of the 19th century's finest landscape photographers. This albumen silver print captures a moment from Bourne's ambitious third expedition in 1866, where he ventured into the Kulu and Lahaul valleys, eventually crossing the formidable Manirung Pass. At an elevation of 18,600 feet, the pass held the record for the highest altitude photographs taken for two decades, a testament to Bourne's dedication and the physical challenges he overcame with his forty porters and cumbersome wet-plate collodion equipment. This image is not just a scenic view; it's a historical document, part of the approximately 2,200 negatives Bourne created during his prolific seven years in India. His meticulous compositions and technical expertise are evident, allowing us to appreciate the grandeur and remoteness of this Himalayan landscape as he saw it.

Bourne, who co-founded the renowned Bourne & Shepherd studio, was celebrated for his ability to produce exquisite photographs under extreme conditions. His detailed accounts of his travels, published in *The British Journal of Photography*, further contextualize these incredible images. This particular print, likely from the 1860s, showcases his signature style of combining a keen eye for composition with high technical skill, making it a significant piece within his body of work documenting India's diverse topography. While the Met lists two versions of "The Manirung Pass," this one, dated to the 1860s, represents the same monumental achievement in photographic history.