Industrial Revolution and the 19th Century

Roger Fenton

The Valley of the Shadow of Death, 1855

" His photograph The Valley of the Shadow of Death, 1855,witnesses a past battle that has left nothing in its wake but a barren rocky wasteland and scattered cannon balls. " Icons of Photography The 19th Century (page 62)

He travelled in a wagon that was equipped with all of the photography equipment he needed.

He was the first official photographer to document the Crimean War, his work was to be published in Illustrated London News, in a book and also a gallery exhibition. He was sent to photograph by Prince Albert in response to the anti war reports by The Times.

He was keen to avoid photographing the dead or injured soldiers, instead photographed images like the one shown below and many of images show the aftermath or empty landscapes.

Photographs were taken with long exposures so there is no action shots of soldiers only posed images.

There are many theories surrounding The Valley of the Shadow of Death, many think that the cannonballs had been moved and placed, another theory is that this image was taken while the battle was ongoing.

Lieutenant-General Barnard and Officers,  Crimea, 1856

Roger Fenton's Van
Taken by Marcus Sparling, 1855

Matthew Brady

American Civil War, 1862

" America's finest portrait photographer and a visual reporter on the Civil war. And, like his work, it would seem as if his personality had been divided. " Icons of Photography The 19th Century (page 66)

Although many images are branded with his name many of them have been taken by different people that he has trained and asked to work for him, these include Timothy O'Sullivan and Alexander Gardner.

" Brady was a company, a brand name " Icons of Photography The 19th Century (page 66)

Timothy O'Sullivan

A Harvest of Death, Gettysburg, 1863

He worked for Matthew Brady photographing the Civil War, what he saw affected him as his style of work continued into photographing the baron landscapes and harsh cliffs.

Source

Icons of Photography The 19th Century (Prestel)
 - Freddy Langer
 - Timm Starl
 - Wilfried Wiegand