The Moore Art Gallery has opened a new exhibition titled "All Hands on Deck: Edward Steichen and the WWII Naval Photographic Unit." The show presents black-and-white photographs taken by the influential photographer Edward Steichen and his team during World War II, offering an intimate look at the lives of sailors and aviators through dramatic and compositionally striking images. The exhibition includes prints annotated by Steichen with editorial instructions, revealing his meticulous process.
The exhibition matters because it highlights a significant but less-known chapter in Steichen's career, shifting from his fame in fashion photography to creating a powerful visual record of war with a humanistic focus. Curated by Tiffany Reed Silverman, it also showcases the collaborative work of Steichen's unit, whose members often went uncredited, and draws from collections including the Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum and MoMA to present a multifaceted historical narrative that connects past service members with current cadets at The Citadel.