I debated as to whether or not I would show this picture. In the end I felt it had made such a profound impact on me that I would post it, even though it might cause some discomfort for its subject matter.
Here is a little more about the picture on display:
"By the time of the Civil War, photography had so advanced that photographers could follow armies, take pictures, and develop them in field darkrooms. They could not, however, photograph moving subjects because of the long exposure times- 5 to 15 seconds- needed to capture a scene on glass plates.
Alexander Gardener began photographing the aftermath of the Battle of Antietam on September 18, 1862, the day following. He took the world's first photographs of war dead, which shocked the public when displayed in Mathew Brady's New York gallery, since most civilians thought combat was like the romantic, bloodless images depicted in contemporary patriotic art. A reviewer wrote, "Mr. Brady has brought home the terrible earnestness of war. If he has not brought bodies and laid them in our dooryards...he has done something very like it."
When President Abraham Lincoln visited the Union army early in October, Gardener also made the first candid outdoor photographs of a serving president."
(from a brochure I picked up at the visitor center in Antietam)
Well done for the courage in doing this for you! To some it is fact, to others it is not to be thought of - too hard! The latter is me, but I appreciate the facts!
Fascinating history. Photojournalists today still face similar dilemmas - whether to photograph or intervene; whether to share personal tragedy to draw attention to the story. Sadly the world never seems to learn.
Very powerful image. Images today are transmitted worldwide as soon as they happen - how different. Showing the ravages of war might be a strong deterrent for some but I'm not sure it is very effective at stopping some hideous attacks of terrorism.
A tragic time in our history, but history is what we know. This is a photo that visually shows that time. Sad, but a fact. Thanks for reminding us with this photo.
@sfeldphotos Thanks Sam. Yes, and no. No in that I first converted the shot to black and white. Yes, in that I then converted it to sepia but took the effect off of everything but Gardener's picture. It gives the impression of sc, but I was mainly trying to offset Gardener's picture from mine while keeping the historical/vintage feel of the Civil War timeframe.
@onewing Thank you Babs. It's very difficult to put into words what it's like being there and remembering this dark period in our nation's history.
@thistle Thank you Joyce. I was really trying to be very sensitive to the subject matter. I appreciate your feedback and support.
@maggiemae Thank you Maggie. I know I would prefer not to consider the tragedies and sorrow. But it is important to remember the facts and learn from them as you said. I think remembering a tragedy such as Antietam brings honor to those who sacrificed their lives for what they believed in. I may not agree but I respect their commitment and loyalty.
@lyndamcg Thank you Lynda. Yes, such a tragedy and even worse most of it could have been avoided more than once throughout the day long battle. Leaders made difficult choices- some even paid for those choices with their lives. Until these photos though, the general public was not aware of what a battlefield looked like after the battle was over. Sad but true.
@alia_801 Thank you Alia. Sadly I think today there is less of a conscious level to photograph tragedies like this with human dignity in mind. Now, it seems what gets published is what will make a name for the photographer and what will be the most sensational rather than what most accurately depicts the situation. Another component is one's worldview. It underscores the paradigms we present in each and every photo whether we realize it or not. It also shapes how we view them. The clash of worldviews is why we never seem to learn and although it may sound simplistic, the reason why there will continue to be injustice and wars around the globe.
@sangwann Thank you Dione. No, there are no photos that will deter terrorism- see my comment about worldview above. Terrorists have an entirely different worldview than those of us who are horrified by their actions.
@francoise Thank you Francoise. It was a such a strange contrast- what was: a bloody battlefield; and what is: a field.
As I`m born in a city that was bomb (by excident) by our friends I don`t like any war. The bullet shot by any kills you for sure. And complaining makes no sence.
@pyrrhula Thank you Ferry. The Civil War is probably the closest in our American history that we came to what you experienced in WWII. This battle took place on the farmland of two families with a small town nearby. After the battle many homes and barns become emergency hospitals for treating the wounded and preparing the dead to be buried. Lives were irrevocably changed that day.
@taffy Thank you Taffy.
@onewing Thank you Babs. It's very difficult to put into words what it's like being there and remembering this dark period in our nation's history.
@thistle Thank you Joyce. I was really trying to be very sensitive to the subject matter. I appreciate your feedback and support.
@maggiemae Thank you Maggie. I know I would prefer not to consider the tragedies and sorrow. But it is important to remember the facts and learn from them as you said. I think remembering a tragedy such as Antietam brings honor to those who sacrificed their lives for what they believed in. I may not agree but I respect their commitment and loyalty.
@lyndamcg Thank you Lynda. Yes, such a tragedy and even worse most of it could have been avoided more than once throughout the day long battle. Leaders made difficult choices- some even paid for those choices with their lives. Until these photos though, the general public was not aware of what a battlefield looked like after the battle was over. Sad but true.
@alia_801 Thank you Alia. Sadly I think today there is less of a conscious level to photograph tragedies like this with human dignity in mind. Now, it seems what gets published is what will make a name for the photographer and what will be the most sensational rather than what most accurately depicts the situation. Another component is one's worldview. It underscores the paradigms we present in each and every photo whether we realize it or not. It also shapes how we view them. The clash of worldviews is why we never seem to learn and although it may sound simplistic, the reason why there will continue to be injustice and wars around the globe.
@sangwann Thank you Dione. No, there are no photos that will deter terrorism- see my comment about worldview above. Terrorists have an entirely different worldview than those of us who are horrified by their actions.
@francoise Thank you Francoise. It was a such a strange contrast- what was: a bloody battlefield; and what is: a field.
@susale Thank you Suse.
@peterday Thank you Peter and thank you for the vote of confidence.
@twinsplusone Thank you Sharon. Very meaningful indeed.
@bkbinthecity Thank you Brian. I appreciate your feedback.
@aglennc Thank you Anita. Very true- the most thanks goes to Alexander Gardener who did not let the tragedy go unnoticed in the first place.
@grammyn Thank you Katy.
Thank you both for taking time to look and comment. It is not an easy-looking picture and I appreciate your feedback.
@homeschoolmom Thank you Lisa. Yes, extremely powerful.
@daisymiller Thank you Daisy. I will never look at this segment of our history in the same way again.
@wendyfrost Thank you Wendy. It is a complicated issue which has no "one size fits all" answer.
@randystreat Thank you Kathy. They were very photogenic for canons!
@cruiser Thank you Chris. I appreciate your view and feedback on this picture.
Happy new year!
@photographycrazy Thank you Bill!