What we now call modern photography was influenced by commercial photography. But not all (modern artists) were commercial photographers, and not many (commercial photographers) are recognized as fine artists.

For many 19th-century artists, the usual reaction to photography was no reaction at all. They simply ignored it. But not Degas. He was deeply interested in the new medium, not just as a tool that could help with his drawings and paintings, but as an art form in its own right.

Today his commercial work is probably his most interesting. Today his commercial work is considered urban industrial documentary. It foreshadows Walker Evans's documentary work of the 1930s.

There is almost always something to look for out of the ordinary. The quality of his work creates possibility and leaves room for the imagination.

He was active throughout Nevada and was considered to have the largest collection of Nevada stock photos. We only have some of them.

He may or may not have viewed himself as a fine artist, but he did photos for himself as well as commercial photos. We have several samples of his Pyramid Lake photos that he did for himself. He viewed his commercial work as sales items to make money and saw his landscapes as more artistic.