Nathaniel Stebbins

Nathaniel Livermore Stebbins (January 9, 1847 – July 10, 1922) was an American marine photographer whose surviving photographs document an important era in the development of American maritime activities. Sweeping technological and social changes revolutionized activity on the water, in military, commercial, and leisure spheres.

In addition to selling prints of his images, he also produced a number of books of nautical images in his lifetime, including an important illustrated coastal guide, which was path-breaking in showing the practical uses of photography. His photography (and, occasionally, writing) also appeared in well-known magazines like The Rudder and Yachting.

Over his working career as a commercial photographer (from 1884 to 1922), he took approximately 25,000 images. Of these, about 60% were of marine subjects (the majority of those being leisure activities, but many are of military and commercial scenes, a valuable record for historians). The remainder includes various commercial work, including the theatre, railroads, home interiors, etc.