George Washington Wilson produced some of his most important work at Oban. During a photographic excursion to the west coast and Western Isles in 1858, Wilson took a series of ‘Sea and Sky Studies’ at Oban. These studies defied photographic convention when he produced what were termed ‘instantaneous’ photographs taken directly into the sun. Unlike his contemporaries, Wilson did not combine two negatives in order to preserve details in the highlights and shaded areas when photographing in challenging lighting conditions; he used an iron developer to achieve the same effect. This, together with the use of a lens hood to counter the diffusion associated with photographing into the sun, allowed Wilson to produce some of his most innovative work in Oban.

Wilson followed in the footsteps of earlier artists and writers who were attracted to Oban. His views in Oban feature the castles of Dunolly and Dunstaffnage made famous by Sir Walter Scott in his narrative poem, The Lord of the Isles. J.M.W. Turner painted Dunstaffnage Castle in c.1832–5 to illustrate Scott’s series of books on the history of Scotland, Tales of a Grandfather. Wilson provided a series of photographs of views of the bay at Oban which he first photographed in 1858. This would have been a familiar view for tourists who arrived in Oban on steam ships. By 1868, 30% of visitors to Oban travelled from England. During the 1880s when the railway link from Glasgow to Oban was opened, day trippers also accounted for the high numbers of visitors. By this time, the tourist industry had established itself within Scotland and in turn increased sales of photographs. Towards the end of his career, Wilson employed teams of anonymous freelance photographers to photograph places of interest and published them under the Wilson company name to meet the demand. Wilson observed the steady influx of tourists to Oban:

In the summer season Oban assumes a very busy appearance – the Messrs. Hutcheson & Co.’s admirable steamers bringing numerous tourists, who generally make a halt in their journey to inspect the ruins of Dunolly Castle, Dunstaffnage Castle, and other beauties of the place.

George Washington Wilson, Photographs of English and Scottish Scenery