Photography and the Civil War Essay - 1603 Words

A. Plan of the Investigation Question: In what ways did Mathew Brady change people’s perception of the Civil War? This investigation evaluates the ways in which photographer Mathew Brady changed the American perception of the Civil War. The focus of the investigation is on the growth of photography during the Civil War, a small bit of background on Mathew Brady, and his involvement on the battlefield as a â€Å"battlefield photographer†. The technological advancements in photography during the Civil War are noted in this investigation. Also, connections between the advancements in early photography and how Mathew Brady used these advancements to change the public perception of the War are explored. Different†¦show more content†¦This dual lens camera created a â€Å"3d† like image, much like the image the human eyes create. The images were developed and put on to a â€Å"stereoview† card, these cards could be bought by the general public and viewed on a personal stere o viewing device that made the images look almost â€Å"3 dimensional† to the viewer. (council on foreign relations)  · The â€Å"stereoview† card viewer was a device much like a pair of glasses mixed with a toy image viewer that small children use today. In some cases, the card would slide into place in front of the lens to be perfectly in focus. Other times the viewer would simply hold the card in front of the viewer and view the card that way. (zeller) Before the steroescope and photography, information was typically transmitted orally. In 1862, Brady had an exhibit in New York called â€Å"The Dead of Antietam†. These were the first images of a battkefield before the bodies removed, and they shocked the public. (Civil War trust) Short background on Mathew Brady:  · Mathew Brady was â€Å"undoubtedly Abraham Lincoln’s favorite photographer† (http://www.mathewbrady.com/) He was the first photographer to document the Civil war (http://www.mathewbrady.com/) He was born in Cork, Ireland and moved to New York as a young boy. (Sons of the South) He was a northern union photographer. (http://www.mathewbrady.com/) Brady died January 15, 1896 after becomingShow MoreRelatedMathew Bradys Photography of the Civil War Essay2809 Words   |  12 PagesIntroduction Photography opened the world’s view. â€Å"Until 1839 the world was blind. Vision was limited to the immediate spectator or the art of the artist, but the rest of the world and history could not see† (Horan 3). People imagine things and do not believe it until they see it. Unless someone has really seen it they believe what they want. Mathew Brady showed people what war was really like. 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