Valley of the Shadow of Death (Roger Fenton) facts for kids
The Valley of the Shadow of Death is a famous photograph. It was taken by Roger Fenton on April 23, 1855. This picture shows a scene from the Crimean War. It is known as one of the most important war photographs ever made.
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The Story Behind the Photo
Roger Fenton was a photographer. He was sent to the Crimean War by Thomas Agnew. The war involved the United Kingdom, France, Sardinia, and the Ottoman Empire. They were fighting against the Russian Empire.
Why the Name "Valley of Death"?
British soldiers gave the place its name. They called it The Valley of Death. This was because the area was always being shelled. It was a very dangerous place.
In September 1855, Thomas Agnew showed the picture in London. It was part of a series of eleven photos. He used the soldiers' name for the valley. He added "of the Shadow" to it. This made the name Valley of the Shadow of Death. It was a reference to a famous Bible verse, Psalm 23.
The Mystery of the Cannonballs
A filmmaker named Errol Morris visited the site in 2007. He wanted to find the exact spot where the photo was taken. He was also looking into a mystery. There are two versions of the photograph. One has cannonballs on the road, and one does not.
People wondered which photo was taken first. Errol Morris found clues that the picture without cannonballs was taken first. He is not sure why the cannonballs were moved. Maybe Fenton placed them there to make the photo look more dramatic. However, experts think this is unlikely. The fighting was too intense for him to arrange them. Another idea is that soldiers were collecting the cannonballs. They might have rolled them down the hill for easier pickup later.
Where You Can See This Photo
Prints of this famous photograph are kept in many places. You can find them in public collections around the world.
Museums and Collections
- The Royal Collection in the United Kingdom
- The Victoria and Albert Museum in London
- The Musée d'Orsay in Paris
- The Museum of Modern Art in New York
- The Art Institute of Chicago
- The J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles
- The Princeton University Art Museum in Princeton
- The Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.
See also
- List of photographs considered the most important
