Photojournalism During Civil War

Many can claim that the beginning of photojournalism started during Civil War. War photographs aimed to catch the attention of the public. However, during that time period, photographers not part of the military. Resulting in images that captured views different, than those at the front line. The shutter speed was not fast enough to capture images in action, so they were all made after the battles. Photographs were often staged for the north support, and the formal aspect of the photograph was influenced by the historical genre paintings. Photographs touched on sacred memory of war, and turned it into a brutal reality. Photojournalism became a fragment of war, unlike a painting that gave the whole battle.

During WWI photographers (royal engineers)

What he means by this is that they are shocking to the viewer and thus they take us out of our daily routine, and force us to think about humanity. As Berger says, it is a contrast of our daily life and when we try to move on after what we have just learned we precede with guilt (Berger 38). When we see those photographs we become deer in headlights not know if we should help or turn a blind eye. After being “arrested” Berger states that the outcome is one of two indignation or despair (Berger 38-39). Indigence overcomes us because, political presence presses responsibility on us (Berger 38). “Indignation demands action” of the people, and people pressing the government (Berger 39). It also can cause despair as we take the suffering of the other personally. We are human like any other, and seeing such agony causes a connection. However, “it is generally assumed that its purpose is to awaken concern”, it does not always happen (Berger 39-40). Instead “moral inadequacy” happens and the viewer continues with their life, or donates a bare minimal in other to feel less guilty not changing the situation.(Berger

Although, more than thirty years have passed since this article was published. It arrests the viewer by the content. A man deep in thought, with his gaze fixed on the rubble below his feet, completely alone, and dirty hands and feet. The man is dressed in a business casual shirt, blazer and watch. If it were not for the rubble, and dirt on him, he would easy be classified as a middle class man. The caption also is as important in arresting the viewer “Shyam Bahapur Bhujel sits by his destroyed home, resting after clearing rubble all day,” this creates a huge impact due to it seeming like the amount of rubble has not changed (Bronstein). There is no result for all his work. This photographer causes despair, because we can relate to the middle class man, he is all-alone, and there seems to be no other people, but we are not sure of this since this is just a fragment. This photograph causes indignation due to the lack of people, not even the government who constantly call for action is there. The drink to the left of the man can also cause indignation, as people can connect to the government’s actions of asking for donations to help disaster