Barnes (1876–1920) was a prolific photographer and oil painter and like most of the photographers of his era, he was a documentarian of the "frontier experience." His work is characterized by a mix of commercial utility and artistic landscape composition. He was one of the early photographers of Mount Rainier National Park documenting glaciers, ice caves, and the first waves of alpine tourists during the early 20th century. Operating primarily out of studios in Parkland and Tacoma, he is best known for documenting the rugged beauty of the Pacific Northwest and the pioneer spirit of the era.