Photography during the Civil War By: Sydni Therrien and Brianna Livingston

Who used photography Mathew Brady was one of the world’s first true war photographer Mathew Brady hired James and Alexander Gardener, Timothy O’Sullivan, and Egbert Guy Fox for his studio This individuals, and many more, all eventually formed their own businesses ​ ​​ Photo taken by Mathew Brady

Types of Photography Portraits Field photos Wet plate Carte de vistie Photos of the soldiers were taken and sent home to their families Field photos Although action shots were nearly impossible to take, still shots on the battlefield were taken Wet plate Long and hard process involving a darkroom, typically in a wagon or a studio Carte de vistie These features allowed for more individuality to each photograph; card thickness, card corners, image size, card borders, studio props and background

Wet Plate Process Collodion was used to coat the plate glass, which sensitized it to light In a darkroom, the plate was immersed in silver nitrate, placed in a light-tight container, and inserted into the camera The cap on the camera was then removed for 2-3 seconds which exposed it to light and imprinted the image on the plate In the darkroom the photo developed in a solution of pyrogallic acid The plate was washed in water then dried, and was coated with a varnish to protect the surface This created a plate glass negative, and once the plate-glass negative was made, the image could be printed on paper

When was photography used Photography was used during the Civil War The Civil War started in 1861 and ended in 1865 ​ ​​ Photo taken by Mathew Brady

Affect of photography during the Civil War Photography enhanced the image of political figures like President Lincoln Images of everyday life, such as men playing cards, playing instruments or cleaning equipment, showed the people back home what life was like as a soldier Black soldiers and slaves were also portrayed for the first time Allowed families to see their husbands and sons while they were away from home

How photography affected life after the Civil War Photos taken during the war were widely displayed and sold nationwide Citizens in their homes could experience the carnage of war through photography These civil war photographs stripped away the Victorian Era romance around warfare The images captured helped during the creation of civil war movies and re-enactments

Citations "American Civil War and Photography." Vintage Camera Club, 25 Apr. 2013, vintagecameraclub.com/civil-war-photos/. Accessed 2 Nov. 2017. Associated Press Reporter. "The pictures that captured a nation at war: Civil War photographer's iconic photos from the front line show America's darkest days." Daily Mail, 5 Aug. 2013, www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2385208/Matthew-Bradys-American-Civil-War-photographs-dramatic- images-line.html. Accessed 2 Nov. 2017. Brooks, Rebecca Beatrice. "Civil War Photography." Civil War Saga, 9 Aug. 2011, civilwarsaga.com/civil- war-photography/. Accessed 29 Oct. 2017. Clark, Gary, editor. "Carte de Visite." Photo Tree, 2013, www.phototree.com/id_cdv.htm. Accessed 2 Nov. 2017. Niiler, Eric. "How Civil War Photography Changed War." Seeker, 27 Nov. 2012, www.seeker.com/how-civil- war-photography-changed-war-1766077826.html. Accessed 1 Nov. 2017. Perry, Douglas. "The Civil War as Photographed by Mathew Brady." National Archives, 7 Sept. 2016, www.archives.gov/education/lessons/brady-photos. Accessed 1 Nov. 2017. Robertson, Kathy, editor. "Photography and the Civil War." Civil War Trust, 2017, www.civilwar.org/learn/articles/photography-and-civil-war. Accessed 2      Nov. 2017. "U.S. Presidents." UVA Miller Center, millercenter.org/president/lincoln. Accessed 2 Nov. 2017.