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Thread: Civil War Photography

  1. #1

    Civil War Photography

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    I just wanted to speak a little bit about Civil War photography. The American Civil War is considered the first major conflict to be extensively photographed. Not only did intrepid photographers venture onto the fields of battle, but those very images were then widely displayed and sold in larger quantities nationwide. Photographers such as Mathew Brady, Alexander Gardner, and Timothy O'Sullivan found audiences for their images as America's interests were piqued by the shockingly realistic truth. For the first time in history, citizens on the home front could view the actual carnage of far away battlefields. Civil War photographs stripped away much of the Victorian-era romance around warfare. Photography during the Civil War, especially for those who ventured out to the battlefields with their cameras, was a difficult and time consuming process. Photographers had to carry all of their heavy equipment, including their darkroom, by wagon. They also had to be prepared to process cumbersome light-sensitive images in cramped wagons. Today pictures are taken and stored digitally, but in 1861, the newest technology was wet-plate photography, a process in which an image is captured on chemically coated pieces of plate glass. This was a complicated process done exclusively by photographic professionals.
    Cameras in the time of the Civil War were bulky and difficult to maneuver. All of the chemicals used in the process had to be mixed by hand, including a mixture called collodion. Collodion is made up of several types of dangerous chemicals including ethyl ether and acetic or sulfuric acid. The photographer began the process of taking a photograph by positioning and focusing the camera. Then, he mixed the collodion in preparation for the wet-plate process.

    “Photography and the Civil War.” Civil War Trust, Civil War Trust, 2018, http://www.civilwar.org/learn/articl...-and-civil-war.

    Basically, the main point I'm trying to make here is that I think photography should be added to War of Rights. Yes, it might be as slow going as the flag-bearer role, but it was a very important part of this era. In fact it was the only way we now know of the true carnage of the battles. I think it would be amazing to add a photographer role into this game. Once you take a photo, you can share it with the rest of the War of Rights community, and maybe even have it displayed in the loading screen when loading into a game. I know this post might seem useless, but I am just a huge fan of old photography and wanted to get my idea out there for the rest of the community to read and maybe even consider implementing it into the game.


    -Thomas E. Lancaster, 28th Massachusetts Company B
    Last edited by Thomas E. Lancaster; 03-22-2018 at 02:33 AM.

  2. #2
    Where's Leifr ? He knows a bit about photography!
    Interesting topic. Thanks for sharing
    Richmond Howitzers, 3rd Company

  3. #3

    CSA Lieutenant General

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    Nice post! I know very little of this topic, but figured I could provide some photos that my wife took while we were following the reenactment of A.P. Hill's march from Harper's Ferry to Sharpsburg. There was a period photographer present who owns one of the shops in Gettysburg. The photographer was there to take some photo's when they forded the Potomac in September 2017. See photos below.

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    Hope you enjoy!
    Last edited by dmurray6; 03-22-2018 at 06:59 PM.
    Civil War Ancestors:

  4. #4
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    Quote Originally Posted by dmurray6 View Post
    Nice post! I know very little of this topic, but figured I could provide some photos that my wife took while we were following the reenactment of A.P. Hill's march from Harper's Ferry to Sharpsburg. There was a period photographer present, who owns one of the shops in Gettysburg. The photographer was there to take some photo's when they forded the Potomac. Hope you enjoy!
    Thank you for sharing this. Those photographs look awesome!

  5. #5
    Quote Originally Posted by dmurray6 View Post
    Nice post! I know very little of this topic, but figured I could provide some photos that my wife took while we were following the reenactment of A.P. Hill's march from Harper's Ferry to Sharpsburg. There was a period photographer present who owns one of the shops in Gettysburg. The photographer was there to take some photo's when they forded the Potomac in September 2017. See photos below.

    1.jpg 2.jpg 3.jpg

    4.jpg 5.jpg 6.jpg

    6b.jpg 7.jpg 8.jpg

    10.jpg 11.jpg 12.jpg

    Hope you enjoy!



    I absolutely love these photos! I hope to learn the art of vintage photography one day.

  6. #6

    CSA Lieutenant General

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    Quote Originally Posted by Thomas E. Lancaster View Post
    I absolutely love these photos! I hope to learn the art of vintage photography one day.
    I'm glad you enjoyed the photos. I thought it was cool to capture with new pictures, the photographer taking 'old' pictures.
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  7. #7
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    Hi Thomas.
    I'll write a lengthier response tomorrow; I graduated in photography, specialising in wet-plate photography. This subject is thoroughly up my street! In fact, I'm heading out tomorrow to make some plates in the local area. I'll drop you a PM with my website.

    Did you know that there is a 'wet-plate' filter available in-game for screenshots? I believe that you double-tap the screenshot button in rapid succession. Unfortunately, no photographer worth his salt (of the time) would stand for a plate with so many blemishes and imperfections.
    Last edited by Leifr; 03-22-2018 at 11:16 PM.

  8. #8
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    I am going to move this to the historical section of the forums.


    - Kyle

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