Timothy OSullivan

Field Where General Reynolds fell, Gettysburg

I chose an image of OSullivans that came before his time working for King and
from his time in Battle field photography; the copy of the image I have found is in
sepia not black and white and gives a real feel for the era in which this
photograph was taken. The first thing I notice when looking at this photograph is
the bleak truth about a bleak situation, very similar to his later images on the
expedition OSullivan does not seek out the attractive element of his location or
his situation but aims straight for the dark side and does not hold back, and in
this case shows what appears to be dead soldiers immediately in front of him
which is far more intense and personal than if he gave himself some distance
between him and his focal point (bodies); OSullivan is not in any way
romanticising the battle being fought.
The focus is on the soldiers allowing the background to be sharp enough to
recognise and give a sense of context but not be equals with the main message
and to me this layout and approach is important it gives atmosphere that
emphasises a morbid reality the background highlights that seems to be
shrouding the trees gives the impression of fog, natural or from canons, the trees
in the background also highlight two things: one that his trees and their
positionings create triangular shapings but also few trees left.