How did the cameras work?
Now we process pictures digitally, but in 1861, they used a procedure called "Wet Plate Photography". This new technology is when an image is captured on chemically coated glass.
*First, the collodion is used to make the plate sensible to light.
*Then in a dark room, the plate is submerged in silver nitrate and put into a container that is inserted into a camera.
*Next, a lid on a camera is removed for a few seconds to allow light to come in, this imprints an image on the glass.
*The photographer immediately takes the glass plate into the darkroom it is developed in pyrogallic acid.
*In order to keep the image from fading, the photographer would fix the glass with sodium thiosulfate.
*Then the plate is washed (with water) and dried.
*Next, the glass is coated with a varnish that protects the surface.
This "Wet-Plate" process creates a negative picture that can then be printed on paper.
*Then in a dark room, the plate is submerged in silver nitrate and put into a container that is inserted into a camera.
*Next, a lid on a camera is removed for a few seconds to allow light to come in, this imprints an image on the glass.
*The photographer immediately takes the glass plate into the darkroom it is developed in pyrogallic acid.
*In order to keep the image from fading, the photographer would fix the glass with sodium thiosulfate.
*Then the plate is washed (with water) and dried.
*Next, the glass is coated with a varnish that protects the surface.
This "Wet-Plate" process creates a negative picture that can then be printed on paper.
Are there photographs of Civil War battles?
Although earlier conflicts were photographed, the Civil War is considered the first major conflict captured on camera. The photographers actually went through the battle fields to get accurate pictures of the War. Taking pictures back then was a time consuming process and the subject has to be still in order for a clear photograph. So there are only a few images from actual battles.
How did photography impact the Civil War?
As the first war to be recorded visually, families finally had a chance to see their loved ones, without them actually being with them. Wives and girlfriends would have pictures of their husbands to hold onto during time of great devastation.
Mathew Brady was one of the leading photographers for the Civil War. Much of the understanding of the war came from his photos. He traveled throughout the eastern part of the country to take photographs of people, towns, and battlefields. One of his first popular photographs, he got so close to the action that he was almost captured. If it wasn't for Mathew Brady, historians would not have nearly all of the evidence that we have today.
Everything anyone would ever want to know about the Civil War was recorded by photography. Many people that were alive during the war, became eye witnesses because they had photographs during the 19th century. Without photography, we would not be able to live the war.
Mathew Brady was one of the leading photographers for the Civil War. Much of the understanding of the war came from his photos. He traveled throughout the eastern part of the country to take photographs of people, towns, and battlefields. One of his first popular photographs, he got so close to the action that he was almost captured. If it wasn't for Mathew Brady, historians would not have nearly all of the evidence that we have today.
Everything anyone would ever want to know about the Civil War was recorded by photography. Many people that were alive during the war, became eye witnesses because they had photographs during the 19th century. Without photography, we would not be able to live the war.