This famous picture by Alexander Gardner from his Photographic Sketch Book of the War is a very dramatic theme it is a straight forward frame the focus is not the dead soldier but his rifle. It is hard to believe the rifle was originally in that exact position, and also the the soldier uniform and the blanket under his head seems to be arranged for the picture. That intervention of the historic scene remains me to a still life composition by Adolhe Braun, more than a photo journalist work. The picture of the dead soldier frame by the two boulders and the rifle with the rock arrangement as it background has an instant effect on the viewer.It is starking and more so at that time 1863.