[Inspiring the Warriors]. Albumen print, Getty Museum. Public domain photograph.

Ernst Alpers was known for his landscape and architectural photography, as well as his portraits of prominent figures of his time. Alpers began his career as a photographer in the 1850s, working with the daguerreotype process. He later switched to the wet plate collodion process, which allowed him to produce larger and more detailed images. In the 1860s Alpers opened his own photographic studio in Hamburg, specialising in portraiture. He photographed many important people of his time, including politicians, artists and musicians. Alpers also had a passion for landscape and architectural photography. He travelled extensively throughout Europe, capturing images of famous landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower and the Colosseum. Alpers was a member of several photographic societies and received many awards for his work. He died in Hamburg on 9 March 1900, leaving behind a legacy as one of the most influential photographers of his time.