Photography historian Beaumont Newhall wrote that it is likely the photo was taken while the ship was docked at Plymouth, England, because there does not seem to be any sign of wind in the scene, which would have been ever present while the ship was moving.
Photography historian Beaumont Newhall wrote that it is likely the photo was taken while the ship was anchored at Plymouth, England, because the angle of the shadows indicate it was facing west, not east as it would have been while crossing the ocean. In addition there does not seem to be any sign of wind in the scene, which would have been ever present while the ship was moving.