How Did Jacques Dagurerre Use Photography In War

To grasp the aspects of photography amongst the battlefield truly we must first develop an understanding of photography. Photography paved a new form of historical sources and communication through images to be perceived in one’s own interoperation. Beginning in the late 1830’s by inventor Jacques Dagurerre. Dagurerre formed his own way of photography which lead to the daguerreotype in Europe which, was then brought to America by Samuel F.B. Morse. Samuel brought a market for photography for the wealthy individuals and prestigious families. Fast forward a few centuries to the 1850’s where wet plate photography also known as developing positive and negative photos became the new technology that lead to photographs being cheaper and widely

Brady opened an exhibit in New York City displaying the photographs taken at Sharpsburg that caused a fixation on his photographs. What was so unique about this gallery than any other beforehand? In Brady’s gallery, his photographs displayed the horrific reality of war. The New York Times released a review about his gallery stating “…Mr. Brady has done something to bring home to us the terrible reality and the earnestness of the war. If he has not brought the bodies and laid them in our door yards and streets…” Brady displayed the demised, mutilated, swollen and scorched bodies of the fallen soldiers (Source 10). Brady was known for his style of work in capturing famous figures, celebrities, and landmarks, but after his work of Sharpsburg he became known as a “national historian” of war. Yet, Brady was never the one photographing these images. Brady favored the illustriousness of being famous and making his presence known. Brady would be featured in the photographs with the generals and staff (Source 4). Some may ask how can the well-known Mr. Brady of wartime photography be in the photographs he taking and receive all the credit? Brady suffered from poor eyesight which prevented him from operating the cameras instead he trained others to take the photographs and do the work for him. One of the most distinguished photographers Brady hired was Alexandar

For instance, Gardner did not try and be featured in his photographs instead focused on truly trying to capture the rawness of war that unfolded before him. Sometimes to try and maximize the intenseness of the photographs Gardner and his fellow photographers would add props or move the bodies in fashion that would display the bodies. The idea was to display the chaos of the war in an exaggerated manner to draw viewers in. For example, the photograph taken by James F. Gibson “Battlefield of Gettysburg. Body of A Soldier in ‘The Wheat Field’ Evidently Killed by The Explosion of A Shell” had added affects. For instance, there was a shell placed by the abdominal area to convey the wounds were from the shell, but the body was most likely mutilated by pigs (Source 13). Despite the manipulations and added affects to the photographs Gardner did his best to illustrate the ways of war. Unlike Brady instead of accepting the credit for other’s hard work Gardner would give credit when due even working with fellow photographers. Gardner would collaborate with other photographers such as: John Reekie, James F. Gibson, and Timothy O’ Sullivan. Contributing generously to wartime