Tall Dome
16-oz Budweiser "Tall Boy" at Yosemite National Park, California
Captured some time in late 1968, this is perhaps the earliest recorded example of beer photography. O'Dowd has said little about what inspired him to shoot this image on a chill November day, but third-party sources claim that he was in the throes of a two-day drinking binge and may not have been in full control of his faculties.

Despite his altered mental status, O'Dowd's timing could not have been more perfect. The sky positively sparkles as it frames the granite curves of Half Dome, and the green tree line provides a sharp contrast to the golden autumn meadow grass.

A minor controversy in the art world has simmered over the slightly blurred label of the beer can. Many O'Dowd aficionados have speculated that this effect was intentional, as the photographer sought to de-emphasize the can in favor of its natural environment. Others have claimed that O'Dowd was shamed by the use of such a pedestrian lager in such a spectacular setting. A third camp believes that O'Dowd, due to his inebriated state, was unable to adequately operate the focus ring on his camera.