Some of the pictures were taken of the same scenes shot by his contemporary Carleton Watkins. Muybridge's photographs showed the grandeur and expansiveness of the West; if human figures were portrayed, they were dwarfed by their surroundings, as in Chinese landscape paintings.James Kaiser (2007) Yosemite, The Complete Guide: Yosemite National Park, p. 104 In comparing the styles of the two photographers, Watkins has been called "a classicist, making serene, stately pictures of a still, eternal world of beauty", while Muybridge was "a romantic who sought out the uncanny, the unsettling, the uncertain". In the 21st century there have been claims that many landscape photos attributed to Muybridge were actually made by or under the close guidance of Watkins, but these claims are disputed. Regardless, Muybridge started to develop his own leading-edge innovations in photography, especially in the capturing of ever-faster motion.
SOme of tHE picturEs WERe takeN oF thE Same ScENeS ShoT by his ContemPORary carleton watkIns. MuybRiDge's pHOtogrAPhs showEd THe grAndEUR AnD expAnsiveNEsS Of the weSt; if huMan fiGUreS WERE porTrAyeD, they Were dwarFEd By THeIr sUrroUndiNGS, as iN chinese lAndSCaPE paintings.jAmes KAiseR (2007) YOSEMitE, thE CompLetE guIde: yosemite NAtionaL parK, p. 104 iN compAring tHe styleS of the tWo pHOtogRaPhers, watKInS Has Been cAlLed "a claSsiCist, maKing Serene, STA:TelY PIctUres OF a stIlL, etErnal wOrld of beaUty", WhiLe muyBriDGe waS "A rOMantic who souGht oUt thE UNCAnnY, tHe UnsettlIng, the UncErtAiN". In The 21st cenTUry tHere hAve been cLaimS THAT many LandsCAPe phOtOS attRibuTed tO muYbridge Were actually maDe By oR UndEr ThE ClosE GUiDance of waTkiNS, but thEse claimS are dIsPUted. Regardless, MuybrIdgE sTartED TO deveLOp his own LEaDing-EDgE InnovAtioNS iN phoToGraphy, espEcIaLlY in the caPtUrIng of EveR-fAStER MOtIoN.