Thursday, April 25, 2024

Boston by balloon


Taken in 1860 by James Wallace Black, surely this aerial photograph of Boston must be the first such feat? 

Not exactly, the actual first birds eye view taken from a balloon was taken 2 years earlier. French photographer Gaspard-FĂ©lix Tournachon, captured the first aerial photographs, photographing Paris from a tethered balloon at an altitude of sixteen hundred feet. Due to the primitive developing system, the feat required him to carry a complete dark room with him. Unfortunately, those photographs have been lost.

 This Boston photo shows The Old South Meeting House on the left (still there today), where Washington St., cutting down diagonally meets Milk St, winding down to the harbour.


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