St. Osyths, Essex - Early photography, Public domain image

Colonel Alfred Capel-Cure (8 December 1826 − 29 July 1896) was an officer in the British Army and a pioneer of photography. His subjects were mostly architecture in England, France and Gibraltar. He served in the Crimean War and was there wounded at Redan. He was killed in an accidental explosion while dynamiting tree roots in his park.

Alfred Capel-Cure was born on 16 September 1826 in Norfolk, England. He was the son of the Reverend Alfred Capel-Cure and his wife Harriet. He joined the British Army in 1844 as an ensign in the 32nd Regiment of Foot. He served in various parts of the world, including India, the Crimea and Canada. Capel-Cure was also a keen photographer and one of the early pioneers of the art form. He began taking photographs in the 1850s and was one of the first to experiment with colour photography. In 1855 he exhibited some of his photographs at the Society of Arts in London. In 1857 Capel-Cure was sent to India with his regiment. There he continued to take photographs and was one of the first to document the Indian Mutiny. He also photographed the Taj Mahal and other famous landmarks. After leaving the army in 1871, Capel-Cure continued to pursue his passion for photography. He became a member of the Photographic Society of Great Britain and was elected to its Council in 1873. He also exhibited his work at various exhibitions and won many prizes. Capel-Cure died on 13 December 1896 in Norfolk, England. His legacy lives on as one of the early pioneers of photography and as a talented officer in the British Army.