Snapshots of the American Civil War

[Sherman A1]

This year marks 150 years since the Battle of Gettysburg, perhaps the most important - and certainly the bloodiest - battle of the American Civil War.

Coinciding with that anniversary the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York is staging a landmark exhibition of what are being described as ''the finest and most poignant'' photographs from these cataclysmic four years in which an estimated 750,000 Americans lost their lives.

The Met's chief curator of photography, Jeff Rosenheim, has also written a book - Photography and the American Civil War - to accompany the show.

He's been speaking to Michael Maher.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-21948857

It's about 4 minutes or so and I thought it interesting....

[Stevenmarc]

1. Looking forward to going to the Met next Tuesday for the opening

I also know two other photographers that are working on projects that are honoring the 150 anniversary:

Michael Falco's: Civil War 150 Pinhole Project

He is using a large format pinhole camera to capture the images. I have to say that his large format pinhole prints are totally amazing.

http://civilwar150pinholeproject.com/


Melissa Cacciola: War and Peace

I like Melissa's take for the 150 anniversary, she's photographing contemporary service people both in and out of uniform using tintype, which was the technology of the time. I do have to say that the online representations can't quite match the depth and beauty of the original prints but gives you a pretty decent idea.

http://www.melissacacciola.com/war-and-peace