"General Grant at City Point"

[John Hartwell]

This photo has long been known as "General Grant at City Point."

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An LoC article shows it to be an example of early, pre-digital photo manipulation:
http://www.loc.gov/pictures/collection/cwp/mystery.html

 

[donna]

Great post. Fakes even back then.

 

[Mark F. Jenkins]

I wonder sometimes if something like that would even have been thought of as a "fake." We think of photos as documentation; if they're thought of more as illustration or art, it's a little fuzzier.

 

[John Hartwell]

I wonder sometimes if something like that would even have been thought of as a "fake." We think of photos as documentation; if they're thought of more as illustration or art, it's a little fuzzier.

I think "you have touched it with a needle." The purpose was not fraud, but to "improvise" a meaningful image. Such a photo back then wouldn't be the "big news, find of the decade" it would be today. No great profit or fame would be attached to it.

 

[Quara]

I wonder sometimes if something like that would even have been thought of as a "fake." We think of photos as documentation; if they're thought of more as illustration or art, it's a little fuzzier.

Thats a great point--it may be due to the fact that photography came out of the tradition of painting, which was always more artistic than documentary. Plus, the technology couldn't capture things 'in the moment' so photos, like paintings had to be composed.

 

[ErnieMac]

The words "Composite photo" appear on the border of the photo at the bottom left. I guess there's no way of knowing when those words were written, but it appears people have been aware it wasn't an original for some time.

 

[Patrick H]

It's a very nicely done composite. Apart from the evidence listed in the article, there is one other problem with it--and this is too often overlooked by modern photo manipulators: The sun is striking "Grant" and his horse from high and to the right. It is striking everything else in the photo from a little lower, and to the left. Furthermore, the sun is casting no shadow underneath our mounted horseman, but it's casting fairly long shadows in the background. Thus, the sun appears to be in two different places at the same time--and shining brightly but also behind an overcast cloud layer, all at the same time.

Still, it's a nice image and cleverly manipulated, considering the technology of the era.

 

[Chattahooch33]

The background image is "Confederate Prisoners at Fisher's Hill". I recognized it instantly as I had a grandfather captured there and so the picture has always interested me.

 

[Chattahooch33]

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[theoldman]

The background image is "Confederate Prisoners at Fisher's Hill". I recognized it instantly as I had a grandfather captured there and so the picture has always interested me.

Great work, Chatt. Amazing, really.

 

[theoldman]

It's a very nicely done composite. Apart from the evidence listed in the article, there is one other problem with it--and this is too often overlooked by modern photo manipulators: The sun is striking "Grant" and his horse from high and to the right. It is striking everything else in the photo from a little lower, and to the left. Furthermore, the sun is casting no shadow underneath our mounted horseman, but it's casting fairly long shadows in the background. Thus, the sun appears to be in two different places at the same time--and shining brightly but also behind an overcast cloud layer, all at the same time.

Still, it's a nice image and cleverly manipulated, considering the technology of the era.

Your eyes are certainly better than mine. Great detective work.

 

[Patrick H]

Your eyes are certainly better than mine. Great detective work.

Thanks, Sarge. These photo judgements are part of my every day advertising work, so I guess I have learned to see photos and evaluate them in a way that most people don't. But still, the photo in this thread is a VERY clever and well done manipulation, considering the technology available when it was done. I really like the photo. I respect the skill of the person who did the composite, too...very much!