Unusual CDV-mounted tintype showing a lone man seated in a rugged, windswept landscape, flanked by towering, stratified rock formations characteristic of the American Badlands region. He wears a vest and brimmed hat, holding what may be a small sketchbook, journal, or geological specimen—possibly a surveyor, geologist, or early explorer.

The stark geological features dominate the composition, with the solitary figure providing a sense of scale. This is a rare example of an outdoor field portrait on tintype housed in a gilt-ruled CDV mount—an uncommon format typically reserved for studio work. The wide-open terrain, barren foreground, and rugged formations suggest a Western locale such as Dakota Territory, Wyoming, or Eastern Montana during the post–Civil War expansion era.