31.03.25 | ‘Truthful’ Photography?
Officers of the 90th Regiment of Foot (Perthshire Volunteers) Light Infantry. LC-USZC4-9225. Crimean War Photography by Roger Fenton
A photograph can document reality, but it can also distort it
People said ‘camera could not lie’, but I would argue otherwise. Photography isn’t just about recording facts—it’s a visual language and a powerful tool of expression. Even in 1855, its apparent ‘truth’ was being manipulated.
Roger Fenton, one of the first war photographers, documented the Crimean War, a conflict where Britain, France, Sardinia, and Turkey fought Russia’s expansion into Ottoman territory. Commissioned by Thomas Agnew & Sons and supported by the British government, Fenton’s work aimed to divert public concern from military mismanagement—where disease killed five soldiers for every one lost in battle. His 360 photos mostly depict orderly camps, supplies, and officers, rarely showing the dead.
Though documentary photography captures real events, framing, lighting, timing, and post-processing also reflect a photographer’s perspective.
So, is there truth in photography? Yes, but it’s always a curated truth.
The ‘Before vs After’ pictures from the 1870s used by Barnardo's homes to attract funds. Barnardo was later accused of setting up the pictures in a court case in 1877.
We’re hooked on changes. And changes tell a much better story
In the 1870s, small ‘before’ and ‘after’ photo cards were sold to support Dr. Barnardo’s East End Juvenile Mission. As the founder of homes for destitute boys, he had professional photos taken upon their arrival and departure. These images, printed and mounted on collectible cards, were an early form of marketing.
Today, before-and-after photos dominate industries like fitness, playing on a basic psychological principle: contrast makes results feel more impactful. People appreciate success more when they see the struggle first. Controlling the narrative through transformation imagery makes the journey—and the outcome—more compelling.
Often, the journey toward the result is more impressive than the result itself. Before and after photos empower viewers, making them believe they too are capable of making change.
The Crowd Waiting to See a Policeman's Funeral, photo Paul Martin (1864-1944). London, England, 1894.
The ordinary may be overlooked, but that doesn't mean it's any less valuable
Paul Martin, a London wood engraver turned photographer, took candid photographs of people and things as seen by the man on the street in the 1890s, using a large disguised box camera held under his arm. He could therefore photograph whatever he was looking at without anyone noticing.
His photos didn’t try to push any message—they just focused on regular people and scenes, capturing authentic moments as they passed by. These photos were a stark contrast to the posed studio portraits of the time and were dismissed as ‘non-artistic.’ In fact, photos of the poor and neglected were seen as a misuse of the medium. Photographers couldn’t see the market for photos of everyday moments taken in less-known places, so once turning pro they turned away from contemporary life, leaving the real world to hit-or-miss amateurs.
Authenticity and everyday moments can be overlooked or undervalued, but they hold their own unique beauty and importance, even if they don’t fit traditional artistic standards.
