Reply With QuoteIt's interesting to see how, due to limitation of the photography technology of the time, people who moved were turned into blur.
Remarkable photos capture life in besieged Washington during the Civil War
On the front line of American history: Remarkable photos capture life in besieged Washington during the Civil War
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2179103/American-civil-war-photographs-capture-soldiers-frontline-American-history.htmlThese are the striking black-and-white images which capture America on the cusp of monumental change during the Civil War.
But instead of portraying dramatic events such as the bloody Battle of Antietam or Abraham Lincoln’s historic address at *****sburg, the images reveal day-to-day life for those caught during wartime in Washington DC.
Defending the nation’s capital, which was ripe for invasion by Confederate forces that had set their sights on the city, became a top priority for the U.S. government.
It's interesting to see how, due to limitation of the photography technology of the time, people who moved were turned into blur.
Limitations?Originally Posted by PsihoKeke
Please explain....
You may have exposed yourself to criticism.
Long exposure times.
All 19th century photographs always have this relaxed, park like atmosphere to them because fast movement couldn't be pictured.
In old portraits, dead animals were often used as backround because live ones wouldn't hold still enough.
Thats one of the reasons why there's not a single photo of a US civil war battle (and none of other 19th century battles either)
Btw, in 1865 Washington was hardly "under siege" anymore
If it ever was. There was one occasion a year before when a confederate army had actually reached the outer defenses of Washington, but this army was too weak to do anything substantial against Washington.
But it was the last time a US president came under fire when Lincoln visited the defenses.
(not counting the near torpedoing of the USS Iowa in 1943 by a friendy destroyer)
It's amazing the photos we have of that time. However, it's sad to realize that over a million glass plates were made during the civil war but the vast majority were either washed and reused or put into greenhouses and faded away with time.
Actually the "posed" photograph had everything to do with "style" and what was photography back then rather than any technical limitation. Nadar a French photographer was doing aerial photography from balloons at the same time as the US Civil War. The Technology for fast shutter speeds came about during the late 1840's early 1850's.Long exposure times.
All 19th century photographs always have this relaxed, park like atmosphere to them because fast movement couldn't be pictured.
In old portraits, dead animals were often used as backround because live ones wouldn't hold still enough.
Thats one of the reasons why there's not a single photo of a US civil war battle (and none of other 19th century battles either)
Btw, in 1865 Washington was hardly "under siege" anymore
If it ever was. There was one occasion a year before when a confederate army had actually reached the outer defenses of Washington, but this army was too weak to do anything substantial against Washington.
But it was the last time a US president came under fire when Lincoln visited the defenses.
(not counting the near torpedoing of the USS Iowa in 1943 by a friendy destroyer
Last edited by Violet Fashion by Mindy; 07-31-2012 at 08:22 PM.
On the large number of forts and batteries that surrounded Washington D.C. during the civil war, I found this listing of fort names and battery names issued in 1861 and 1863 etc, which is on the national park service govt. website:
http://www.cr.nps.gov/history/online...ar/hrsa1-c.htm
back in the 1970s.... A construction company building something, had a good sized earth mover fall into a depression which had evidently been a powder magazine at it was directly at one of the old forts, just north of Little River Turnpike near Alexandria, VA. near the old Seminary.
paved roads - gotta love em.
Thanks Min, I did not know that.
Washington was never under siege.
many of these photos can also be seen on this site..in Hi-res...no foollin' Beav......note.>>>.some pix are misplaced or are historically linked to the US Civil War.
http://www.shorpy.com/node/10941
Check this out..right click and select view image for hi-res.
....right click and select view image for hi-res.
This horse looks quite alive to me!
August 1863. Bealeton, Va. "Capt. Henry Page, assistant quartermaster, at Army of Potomac headquarters with horse." Wet plate glass negative.
Circa 1864-65. "Powder monkey by gun of U.S.S. New Hampshire, Federal depot ship off Charleston, South Carolina." Wet plate glass negative.
Major General George Armstrong Custer, officer of the Federal Army" circa 1865. Wet plate glass negative, studio of Mathew Brady.
May 14, 1862. Cumberland Landing, Virginia. "Group of contrabands [runaway slaves] at Foller's house." Photographs from the main Eastern theater of war: The Peninsular Campaign, May-August 1862. Wet-plate glass negative, half of stereograph pair. View full size. Photograph by James F. Gibson (b. 1828)
breaks my heart to see this ^ sad but needed time in history. Great photos!
Technology might have come, but this doesn't mean that automatically everyone upgraded to the new firmware
Even until the 1880s, there's hardly any movement in pictures, especially water always looks extremely calm
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