He worked for M.Brady but eventually found himself fighting in the the war he used to take pictures of, the American Civil War. After his stint in the war, he was honorably discharged, he rejoined Matthew Brady.
Field where General Reynolds fell, 1863
Dead Horses of Bigelow's Battery, 1863
Harvest of Death, 1863
Did similar work as Brady, they both took pictures of the war. Struggles, battles, troups and such.
Upon some notice of fame, he joined Alexander Gardner’s (often famous for his photographs of Abraham Lincoln, one below) studio from which he first had his work published, around 30 pictures.
In the late 1860’s he became the official photographer for the United States Geological exploration crew. They started in Nevada and explored the southwest, the land features, the mines, the smelting houses, and so on.
Unfortunately, on a trip up the Colorado River, O'Sullivan and his colleagues found themselves in danger. One of the boats was taken under by the intense rapids, killing a few men and while this is terrible, it is also terrible that this was the boat that had most of the crews food supply and living materials aboard.
Black Canyon, 1871
Upon those adventures, he was part of a crew that surveyed the Panama Canal. The quality of photographs deminished a little, understandable due to rigorous conditions of living in the area for the crew.
Panama Canal, US Crew at work
Upon returning to the U.S. he took one more trip out to the West, completeing a long-awaited series of photographs of the far territories.
In the last of his life he was in Washington DC, where he was the photographer for the Treasury Department. After such a short, but adventurous life, he died on Staten Island of Tuberculosis around the age of 40.
In the last of his life he was in Washington DC, where he was the photographer for the Treasury Department. After such a short, but adventurous life, he died on Staten Island of Tuberculosis around the age of 40.
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