Dramatic Photographs of the Civil War: Hanging at Washington Arsenal

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The role of the news-making photographer in Gardner’s era was to document the history that was in the making, documenting the battlefield and anyone that would be considered a pioneer of the news. They also had a role to make large photographic prints. Today, photojournalist’s play the role of being a visual story teller. They have to photograph, edit and present the images they shot to tell a story that no one else can tell. They have to be knowledgeable about the trade and have to be able to use all the tools provided really well. The time from Gardner’s era and today technology has changed and the equipment has advanced so far that more advancement is continued to be used to the fullest. The only thing that I have really seen be the same is the way photojournalist photograph their subjects. Some photojournalist even still use the darkroom to produce their images and that has been around for ages. Studying Gardner’s work and the approach he used makes his work very unique in the 1860’s. He shot dramatic images on the battlefield within the years of the Civil War, as well as portraits of President Abraham Lincoln. Looking at his images "Lewis Payne, a Conspirator, in Sweater, Seated and Manacled," April 1865, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. and "Hanging at Washington Arsenal; Hooded Bodies of the Four Conspirators; Crowd Departing," July 7, 1865, Washington, D.C. I get a sense of a man who wanted to capture the dramaticness of the events that occurred and the prisoners that were taken capturing their final moments alive for the families to have. He tells not only a story of history with his images, but he also shows the history and how they dealt with murders and people of that nature by hanging them. These two i... ... middle of paper ... ...en and adults play have realistic, violent situations. We may not react to photographs in the same way that the people in the 1860s may have reacted when violence wasn’t such a part of their culture. Works Cited "History of Art: History of Photography." History of Art: History of Photography. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 May 2014. . "Penny Jennings: Art Photography." : News-Making Imagery. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 May 2014. . "Photojournalist Job Description." Photojournalist Job Description. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 May 2014. . "William Albert Allard - Collections." William Albert Allard - Collections. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 May 2014. .

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