Was there a AZW Fenton?

Subject: Was there a AZW Fenton? Wed Aug 28, 2019 7:31 am

Hi,

Was there an equivalent of a 'Rodger Fenton' in the Zulu War?

I suppose that photography techniques and equipment had got more available and portable since the Crimean War but was there a photographer associated with the AZW.

Quite a lot of photographs seem to be taken before/after the war (Pinetown etc), but a large number seem to be taken on campaign - did these involve a 'photography wagon'

Thanks a lot

Simon

Posts : 465 Join date : 2013-05-07 Location : Brecon

There were a number of photographs, subsequently made up into albums and bought by soldiers returning home, taken by James C Lloyd, West End Studios, Durban.

Subject: Re: Was there a AZW Fenton? Wed Aug 28, 2019 9:29 am

The Kisch brothers - Benjamin and Henry - were also responsible for a number of well-known photographs relating to the Zulu War.

JY

Posts : 2872 Join date : 2010-06-02

The Kisch brothers certainly used a wagon to transport their photographic equipment, but I don't think there was any equivalent of Fenton's wondrous machine (which he had built in England and shipped to the Crimea). The difference is probably because of the advancing techniques, as you say, with Fenton having to expose and develop his wet plates pretty much when they were taken with salt prints made a little later. By 1879 the mass produced (relatively) carte de visit had become common and cheap which is why we find so many now. Back in the Crimea it would have been quite rare for ordinary soldiers to have photographs made - we see some daguerrotypes/tintypes/ and glass positives in fancy cases of course. By 1879 most sizeable towns had a photographic studio.

Steve

» Fenton, Gerald Herbert
» Medal to 2/3rd foot 1059 Benjamin Fenton