Photography

[lokisday]

As a photographer, I find this very interesting. There are obviously lots of paintings of famous war heroes, but not as many photos - because photography wasn't invented yet. The photos that ARE there obviously show people older than their portraits. But it makes me wonder - what did people really look like? Paintings are never ENTIRELY clear

Comments

[anteros_lmc]

Fascinating!

Here's another couple to add to your collection:

Franklin:
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:John_Franklin.jpg
http://www.nmm.ac.uk/tserver.php?f=9191-1.jpg&h=650&legacyResize

James Clark Ross:
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sir_James_Clark_Ross_by_Stephen_Pearce.jpg
http://www.jamescairdsociety.com/pix/Ross%20250.jpg (not entirely sure this is a photograph, but I think is may be.)

[lokisday]

It does look like one, if a little out of focus, but that may just be the scan. :)

I was just reading about Franklin then ... god those arctic expeditions creep me out. It seems anyone who ever survived one was just lucky!

[anteros_lmc]

Of course if it's contrast you're interested in you really need to compare the famous bearskin portrait of Ross with his later photograph. Although I think Ross is still quite striking even in old age.

god those arctic expeditions creep me out. It seems anyone who ever survived one was just lucky!
They sound utterly horrendous. I seem to remember that the only person who survived the final Franklin expedition was a seaman who took ill and was dropped off in Orkney (I think..) Btw if you're interested I've got a review of Frozen in Time here.

[lokisday]

That portrait is ALMOST moving me to make a thread "So... be honest, just how HAWT were these people?" but as that would be embarassingly fangirlish I shall resist. Right? XD

[anteros_lmc]

"So... be honest, just how HAWT were these people?"
A contemporary account describes Ross as "the handsomest man in the Royal Navy" and he was said to have cut quite a dash in Victorian society. One can see why!!

Especially John Ross sounds pretty awesome
John Ross was an extraordinary character. Both pompous and shrewd. On his return one of his men published a tirade The Last Voyage of Captain John Ross which denigrated his character and abilities. However he effectively saved the lives of his men by emulating Inuit survival techniques, relying on fresh meat and fish rather then tinned supplies.

more about the lifeboat with two bodies and chocolate!
They had tea too! Have posted more about the contents of the lifeboat over at your journal.

I'm not sure how I feel about those bodies being dug up.
I'm probably not the best person to comment, having worked as an archaeologist and dug up a few bodies in my time. However suffice to say that human remains are always treated with respect.