Breadth of Field celebrates the donation of a massive collection of American field cameras, a recent gift from Larry Pierce and Sharon Moore. Field cameras were meant to be brought outside of photographic studios and into “the field,” and were used in the nineteenth century to photograph in natural settings. They were used by professionals and a burgeoning population of amateur photographers alike. Examined as a group, this collection of field cameras demonstrates the ways in which camera manufacturers fought to distinguish themselves, angling competitive advantages in design and features that they hoped would appeal to an ever-expanding field of photographers.

Thank you to our sponsors: UCR College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences, and the City of Riverside.