Roger Fenton
http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/rfen/hd_rfen.htm
http://www.allworldwars.com/Crimean-War-Photographs-by-Roger-Fenton-1855.html
http://www.allworldwars.com/Crimean-War-Photographs-by-Roger-Fenton-1855.html
"Roger Fenton is a towering figure in the history of photography, the most celebrated and influential photographer in England during the medium's "golden age" of the 1850s. Before taking up the camera, he studied law in London and painting in Paris. He traveled to Russia in 1852 and photographed the landmarks of Kiev and Moscow; founded the Photographic Society (later designated the Royal Photographic Society) in 1853; was appointed the first official photographer of the British Museum in 1854; achieved widespread recognition for his photographs of the Crimean War in 1855; and excelled throughout the decade as a photographer in all the medium's genres—architecture, landscape, portraiture, still life, reportage, and tableau-vivant."
Fenton has a large collection of war photography but its his barren landscapes that i am drawn to, the rough terrain, high detail and sense of texture is so strong within these images. texture is something I'm constantly thinking about when taking my own images, shooting in black and white doesn't leave much room for texture/detail so when creating my images I'm seeking the right angle/shadow/detail will give most interest, depth and texture to the image.
"Fenton had played a pivotal role in demonstrating that photography could rival drawing and painting not only as a means of conveying information, but also as a medium of visual delight and powerful expression."