Cohoes Falls | 03.18.2025

Cohoes Falls | 03.18.2025
Cohoes, New York

© 2025 John Bulmer Photography, John Bulmer Media, and Nor'easter Films
www.bulmerphotography.com
www.johnbulmermedia.com
www.noreasterfilms.com
All Rights Reserved

Antiquity Project: Cohoes Falls Stereograph

Antiquity Project: Cohoes Falls Stereograph 
Cohoes, New York 
Large Format Image, Stereograph 

As part of my Antiquity Project—which explores landscapes in the Capital Region through century-old photographic techniques—I set out to create something that would truly connect me to the past: my own stereograph. After countless hours studying stereographs from the late 1800s, I felt it was time to move beyond simply researching them and experience the process of making one myself.

This stereograph features the Cohoes Falls, captured in a way that honors the techniques of historic landscape photographers. They had this remarkable ability to show as much of the scene as possible, making every detail—from the rushing water to the rocky edges—feel alive. To bring this piece to life, I hand-colored the accompanying image, a time-honored practice that added warmth and vibrancy. I also designed a historically accurate photo logo and used 19th-century-inspired typefaces to keep the aesthetic true to its roots.

What is a Stereograph?

A stereograph, or stereoscopic card, was like the virtual reality of the 1800s. It’s a pair of nearly identical photographs mounted side by side. When viewed through a stereoscope, the two images merge into one, creating a three-dimensional effect that feels surprisingly modern.

In their heyday, stereographs weren’t just images—they were adventures. They brought faraway places, historical moments, and stunning landscapes right into people’s homes. Photographers of the time worked carefully to show every detail, framing their shots to pull viewers into the scene. Whether it was a sweeping mountain range or a bustling city street, the images felt immersive, almost like stepping into another world.

Stereographs didn’t just entertain—they educated. They helped people see the world in a new way, shaping perspectives and sparking curiosity. It’s amazing to think that something so simple could pave the way for modern 3D imagery, but it did. These little cards remind us of how powerful images can be when they’re designed to make us stop, look, and wonder.

© 2025 John Bulmer Photography, John Bulmer Media, and Nor'easter Films
www.bulmerphotography.com
www.johnbulmermedia.com
www.noreasterfilms.com
All Rights Reserved

Antiquity Project: Cohoes Falls

Antiquity Project: Cohoes Falls

Large Format Image

This is the second installment in my Antiquity Series, a project that uses 100-year-old technology to capture images that feel as though they’ve been pulled directly from the past. This photograph was taken with a 4x5 view camera, a straightforward yet precise device featuring a large bellows and focus controls on either end. The image is composed on a ground glass screen, appearing upside down until captured—a process requiring patience, skill, and the use of a focusing hood to block out extraneous light while composing the shot.

The composition of this image is a deliberate nod to the classic landscape photographers of the time, reflecting their dedication to balance, scale, and light. Framed to emphasize the grandeur of Cohoes Falls, it captures both the natural wonder and its surrounding elements in a way that evokes the awe those photographers sought to inspire.

The Falls
Cohoes Falls, the second-largest waterfall in New York State, spans roughly 1,000 feet across and rises up to 90 feet high. Situated on the Mohawk River, a vital waterway in northeastern New York, the falls straddle the city of Cohoes and the town of Waterford.

Known to the indigenous Mohawk as “Ga-ha-oose,” meaning “the place of the falling canoe,” the falls carry with them a legacy of legend and history. One tale speaks of a chief’s daughter who drifted over the edge while asleep in her canoe, her story forever tied to the cascading waters.

The first European settlers to encounter Cohoes Falls in the 17th century were captivated by its power and scale, long before Niagara Falls became widely accessible. To early Americans, the falls represented not only natural beauty but also industrial potential, shaping the development of the surrounding communities.

By using technology and techniques authentic to the period, this photograph honors the early photographers who sought to preserve such wonders for future generations reminiscent of what you would find in 100-year-old guidebook.

© 2024 John Bulmer Photography, John Bulmer Media, and Nor'easter Films
www.bulmerphotography.com
www.johnbulmermedia.com
www.noreasterfilms.com
All Rights Reserved  

Cohoes Falls | 10.31.2021

Cohoes Falls | 10.31.2021
Cohoes, New York

© 2021 John Bulmer Photography + Nor'easter Films

www.bulmerphotography.com

www.noreasterfilms.com

All Rights Reserved