The Nineteenth century

Roger Fenton photography, Crimean war



The crimean war was a war of Russia against Britain and France. Its quite an important land mark in the world of visual arts, as this was the first war to be documented by photographer. That photographer was Roger Fenton. The war lasted between the years of 1853 and 1856. 


"Fenton spend March-June 1855 in Crimea as an official campaign photographer, payed by the British government, recording participants and landscapes for posterity. These records never managed to capture battles, explosions, devastations, wounds, blood and tears, partly due to the limitations of photographic techniques of the period, but also because of official wish to glamorize the war and shift public attention away from government and military mismanagement, for which Crimean campaign became infamously known. " 

http://www.allworldwars.com/Crimean-War-Photographs-by-Roger-Fenton-1855.html
(all images also from above link)

"The artist's van. Marcus Sparling, seated on Roger Fenton's photographic van."

This image goes to show the extent of the limitations of taking photographs compared to now. images would be developed in here. One would assume it would be difficult enough to capture images at war during these our modern times with the small compact cameras we 

now have, never mind trying to capture images at war in the times Roger Fenton had to.

 "Roger Fenton, The valley of the shadow of death"

As you can see, there are many cannon balls spread across the desolate land. This was in fact one of the most famous images of the crimean war campaign. 

The vast size of the empty land and the number of cannon balls along with the fact the land is now empty in this image goes to show the extent of this war. Some may argue that this image would have been set up, in the fact that the cannon balls have purposely been placed to make the image look more effective/ have a greater impact. 

"Major General Sir George Buller"

i think this image is a good example of this idea of trying to glamourise the crimean war. The majour General here looks to be presented as powerful and in charge. despite the debris around on the floor both the horse and the man look proud and almost desirable.

"The tombs of the generals on Cathcart's Hill: a man standing at the grave of Brigadier General Thomas Leigh Goldie, who was killed in action at the Battle of Inkerman."

Again an image like this is a good example of how this war was photographed as a campaign. Although i wouldn't really say this image is an image id say is glamourising the war, however by posting images of the graves of these men, its gives the impression to the people back home whom are viewing these images that the apposing side to the men in these images are winning the war.