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

2. 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
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Photo taken by Mathew Brady

3. 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

4. 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

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

6. 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

7. 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

8. Citations
"American Civil War and Photography." Vintage Camera Club, 25 Apr. 2013, vintagecameraclub.com/civil-war-photos/. Accessed 2 Nov
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, images-line.html. Accessed 2 Nov
Brooks, Rebecca Beatrice. "Civil War Photography." Civil War Saga, 9 Aug. 2011, civilwarsaga.com/civil- war-photography/. Accessed 29 Oct
Clark, Gary, editor. "Carte de Visite." Photo Tree, 2013, Accessed 2 Nov
Niiler, Eric. "How Civil War Photography Changed War." Seeker, 27 Nov. 2012, war-photography-changed-war html. Accessed 1 Nov
Perry, Douglas. "The Civil War as Photographed by Mathew Brady." National Archives, 7 Sept. 2016, Accessed 1 Nov
Robertson, Kathy, editor. "Photography and the Civil War." Civil War Trust, 2017, Accessed 2      Nov
"U.S. Presidents." UVA Miller Center, millercenter.org/president/lincoln. Accessed 2 Nov