yr12_scw_Photographers


 * __Photography On The Spanish Civil War__** 

Pictures and photographs can have a big impact on the people who view them depending on the message the photographer is trying to portray. Photos can be a form of showing emotions, a time’s social and political conditions, relationships, but can also be a form of propaganda. When one looks at a photo we can’t help but pick up on the photographer’s message and form an opinion upon that information. These messages though can sometimes be biased and they don’t always show us the other side.  The first important photographic theme would be children and the effect they can have on the spectator’s opinion and view of the situation shown. The photographer who took the picture below was trying to capture ** hearts of his viewers by showing a mother feeding her baby while looking out for war planes. He is trying to get us to sympathize with the people of that time by showing us a more personal and family oriented side of the war. He is also trying to show us his image of the republic which is the group that is dropping the war planes on this part of the Spanish country. Another interesting aspect of this photo would be its title which is “Land distribution meeting” which is not at all the title we would expect this photo to have. In reality the photographer’s message remains the same as before but he is also trying to show us a different type of “meeting”; one where the war planes are “meeting” the innocent civilians. **



Copyright © 1996 from the Estate of David Seymour.
 * Land distribution meeting. Estremadura, Spain, 1936.**

** The next photograph was chosen by the photographer to depict a similar message. Showing children in conditions such as malnutrition, unwashed, poor… This tends to have a big effect on people and how they view a situation. An audience will almost always sympathize and want to get involved and or get angry at the political group/government that is running that country or making war against it; whichever side the photographer wants the public to blame for the situation. It is a way of ** ** propaganda and can have a big influence on the people’s political and social views. **

Orphaned by Rebel bombs over Madrid ca. 1936-1939 ** The final picture for this theme is the following. The photographer is making out ** the 137th brigade to be a kind and well intentioned military group that are well accepted by the people. When looking at this picture one feels as though the side that these soldiers are on must be the right/correct side. We can not picture these soldiers doing wrong, being corrupt or killing people. This picture could also be seen as a form of propaganda. **
 * Unidentified Photographer

S.C. Soldiers of the 137th Brigade playing with a group of children in Barcelona ca. 1936-1939

** The next theme would be foreign aid. During the Spanish civil war many soldiers from all around the world came to help the Spaniards gain political freedom or a better form of democracy. In this picture we can see a large number of soldiers saluting. The message the photographer is trying to portray is unity. He is showing the ** togetherness of the group and how they are united and moving towards a common goal. This group which would be the Lincoln brigade which is apart of the American brigade. One of the many foreign groups who came to Spanish republics aid. **


 * Lincoln Brigade volunteers salute**


 * [[image:Spain_4.jpg align="left"]]The next theme I will be analyzing will be the women’s rights movement. The photographer, that took the photo below, is trying to show the positive effects of the Spanish civil war and the positive aspects that joining the republic could have on you. This picture is showing women being at the forefront of the war and helping and encouraging the troops. The picture is promoting the idea that men and women are equal; a message that would have been very appealing to the women of this time. **

L.P. Anarchists in Spain ca. 1936-1939 **

Finally the last theme is death. ** The image below is a very famous picture done by Robert Capa. The primary reason that this picture became so famous would be for the fact that it was unstaged. The soldier is actually falling dead at the moment of the photo which has a much deeper and important effect on the public. I believe though that this picture has a much deeper yet simpler message than the others. This picture is not a form of propaganda but an image of the horror of war. Its main purpose is to make the viewers reflect on the war’s consequences and its very existence. **

A Republican militiaman meets his death. Photo: Robert Capa. **
 * In conclusion war photography is a very effective form of communication. Enabling the photographer to express his opinions and view points through images. These photos can be seen either as a successful form of propaganda or a way of enabling the artist to freely express his ideas. Whichever it is considered it is an effective way of communication. **