About
THE BIG PICTURE features the work of two photography studios which, together, covered nearly the entire 20th century in Washington. Using a series of high-end Cirkut panorama cameras, the craftsmen produced their pictures for clients. Fred Schutz worked in Washington, DC from 1913 until his death in 1965. Capitol Photo Service, led by Ed Segal, covered the city from 1956 until 2003. Panoramic photographers earned their livings by capturing large groups and, with any luck, selling each individual pictured a finished print. Little did they know that today we would consider their daily work to be artistic achievements.
From Amelia Earhart’s flight to Bolling field, to the 1924 World Series Championship . . . from delegations of Sioux Indians calling on the U.S. president, to the debutantes of the Bachelor-Benedict social club . . . from graduating junior high school students to professional school reunions . . . from groundbreakings to visiting nurses, these magnificent panoramic photographs document moments of great pride.
INTERPRETING THE BIG PICTURE
Click on this video to learn how the curators went from a ninth grade school picture to interpret a neighborhood and a pivotal time in DC history.
CAPITOL PHOTO SERVICE
Today the DC History Center is the proud steward of the photography of Capitol Photo Service. To research the collection, or acquire a reproduction, please email library@dchistory.org.
PANORAMIC IMAGES
Our generous partner in THE BIG PICTURE exhibit is the Chicago firm of Panoramic Images, Inc. Panoramic Images retains the Fred Schutz Historical Collection. Click here to browse the catalog of reproductions of Fred Schutz panoramas. Reproductions are also available for purchase.
