War photographers throughout history share something in common, being fearless and dedicated to this genre. They are able to capture these moments of tragedy to preserve a degree of truth and remembrance. 


In our blog we are going to explain the main differences and unique styles each photographer has and compare them all to Robert Capa.

Robert Capa  

Robert Capa was an extremely brave photographer.

His main focus was to depict how war was in reality; crude and horrifying. Using a unique style that no other photographers of his time would dare to use. He was there in the middle of the action which often threatened his own life but he was able to expose the damage the war was creating from a point of view only soldiers were able to witness. 

He documented some of the most memorable moments in war history.

The Spanish Civil War  where Capa took one of his most memorable pictures: 

THE FALLING SOLDIER

 

This frame captures the exact moment in which Federico Borrell García is shot in the head and collapses lifeless to the ground during the battle at Cerro Muriano, on September 5, 1936. 

There were some allegations that this picture was fake and posed but after many years and debates these allegations have been proven wrong.

This close up of the left hand of the soldier shows us how his hand has lost his reflects and his fingers are curled towards the palm of the hand; which means Federico Borrel was already dead.

On the far left Federico Borrel García instants before dying.

The D-Day at Omaha Beach.



1st Infantry Division landed at Omaha Beach on June 6, 1944.



Robert Capa landed at Omaha beach with the first Infantry Division and experienced the first ignites of war next to the soldiers. Amongst all the despair and confusion of combat he was able to take 106 frames of the  surroundings before fleeing the scene.

After that, he went to England to reveal the frames, where an overly excited technician at Times Magazine headquarters, dried the pictures too fast; the excess heat melted the emulsion on all but 10 of the frames. The remaining ones were blurry and surreal shots that portrayed the horror, confusion and chaos of that day.



Normandy Landing






Omaha Beach. June 1944. French fishermen looking at the bodies of soldiers killed during the landing.

 

Roger Fenton

Fenton’s photography tended to portray war in an unrealistic manner not showing the true violence.  He avoided taking pictures of dead, injured or mutilated soldiers. Instead he concentrated on taking photos of the soldiers, the camps, and the terrain of battle.  



Shadow of the Valley of Death



                                                

Fenton rarely took any action shots because of technical reasons with his camera equipment which needed long exposures.  He always carefully posed his soldiers or took pictures of still objects.  Capa was known for his photos being out of focus, he didn't care that he didn't have the right equipment, he got into the action.

It was very difficult to transport all of the necessary processing equipment, so Fenton converted an old wine wagon into a photography transportation vehicle. 



Alexander Gardner

Alexander Gardner was a very daring photographer and showed no restraint when it came to war. Most of his photos showed the consequences war had.  He took post battle pictures which showcased injured and deceased soldiers unlike Capa, which pictures were taken while battle was ensuing.
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Confederate dead gathered for burial at Antietam

Home Of A Rebel Sharp Shooter




During the American civil war Gardner’s photographs contained as much scenery as possible, but also showing the purpose of the photo. “ Home of a rebel sharp shooter” was his most famous photograph, which shows a dead sniper lying on the ground in the bunker.
If you look at Gardner’s images you will find that there is enough background and action to make the viewer feel like they are part of the image.  

Mathew Brady

Unlike Robert Capa who was always risking his life at the battle field, Mathew Brady sometimes wasn’t even there.  He would rely on his associate photographers like Alexander Gardner, George Barnard and Timothy O'Sullivan to take the pictures.


Even though Brady did take many Civil War environmental photographs, he focused more on portraits.  He took pictures of U.S. Governors, Mayors, Senators, Congressmen and almost every famous Union Civil War General, Also many known people of his time such as King Edward VII of England, Edgar Allan Poe and Thomas Edison where caught by his camera.

President Abraham Lincoln


His style is well thought and planned, his pictures are frequently posed and sharp unlike Capa’s whose photographs were almost always blurry and natural.
Brady was more concerned of the quality of the photograph rather than the impact or shock the photograph may produce. His goal was to document the history of his country.