Ball’s Wartime Camp Scene
By Buck Zaidel Four cartes de visite produced in Cincinnati during the Civil War years reveal how one of America’s most important 19th century photographers used painted backdrops as visual
Tag: Buck Zaidel
Johnson’s Star Gallery, Indianapolis
By Buck Zaidel At first glance, the painted backdrop in a studio portrait can seem little more than theatrical scenery—stylized tents, patriotic military elements, and simple landscapes. Yet, these primitive
The Winter 2026 Issue of Military Images Magazine
Confederate images take center stage in this issue. Two years ago, Executive Editor Rick Brown and I spent almost three days making digital versions of the images of Paul Reeder,
Primitive Camp Scenes
By Buck Zaidel Painted canvas backdrops were used by Civil War era photographers to enliven the image, and to place the new warrior in a setting similar to what they
The Autumn 2025 Issue of Military Images Magazine
Civil War images speak to us in unique and varied ways. The cover photograph for this issue tells the story of five Union citizen‑soldiers who belonged to the same mess,