Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1890-12-12
AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY.
TAKING PICTURES BY MEANS OF
BALLOONS AND KITES.

instantaneous Views Secured by Cameras I
In Mid Air-How the Work Is Accom-
pIished--The First Successful Attempt +
Was Made In 1881.
Aeronauts and others have for some
time past endeavored TO produce photo
graphs from balloon, and have met
with very considerable success.
1t would be difficult to say who was
the first to make photographs from a
balloon, but there is no doubt that NJ
Nadar, Of Paris. has done more in this
direction than any one else. Some very
satisfactory results were obtained by him
by means of a camera attached to the
side of the car
But the idea Of sending camera
alone up into the air was one that occt1-
pied the attention Of scientists, for the
reason that it obvi2ted the necessity Of
sending up aeronants and, in conse-
quence, mnch smaller balloon would
be required. In the year 1881 my father.
the late W. B. Woodbury.. invented and
patented balloon camera of this kind.
The principal part Of the apparatus is a
drum, holding four sensitive dry Plates:
this drum is wound up. and by means Of
small electro magnet a catch was re-
leased. and the plates could be brought
into position successfully. The lens was
covered with an instantaneous shutter.
ops ming and closing the lens in the
l-s50th part of second. This also was
controlled by small electro magnet.
The wires connected with these two
magnets, and one for the return current.
were inclosed in the rope that held the
balloon, SO that the operator on terra
firma, by simply sending a current
through these wires, could work the
movements of the camera as easily as if
it We're in his own hands.
HOW THE PICTURE IS TAKEN
The operation was this: He touched
one button and sent current to one
electro magnet, which brought a plate
into position. By means of telescope
the behavior of the balloon could be seen.
Directly 1t was in steady position a
current was sent, by pressing another but
ton, through the second electro magnet:
{ this released the shutter and the exposure
was made. When the four plates had
been exposed the camera was drawn to
the ground. the plates developed into
1 negatives, and by means of a magic Ian
/ tern their image was thrown on to a
screen or large piece Of paper With a
( piece Of chalk the outlines were sketched
out and the position of the enemy's for
tlticatlOns. their strength and position.
could at once be seen by all the officers
I From recent number Of La Nature is
reproduced an account of IA Photographic
! kite recently invented by n A Balut.
Of Enlaure. To the kite is attached a
small Photographic camera by means Of
a triangular support fixed to the back
bone. The camera Is provided with an
instantaneous shutter actuated by means
of slow match. Before flying the kite
this match is lighted. and when combus-
ton has proceeded so far as to set fire to
a small thread it releases the spring of
the shutter and the exposure is made.
AN AERIAL BAROMETER
Another very novel feature Of this in
genious apparatus is the use of regis
tering aneroid barometer attached to
the kite so that the operator can find out
the altitude V 3ich the kite has assembled
above the ground This barometer is
combined with a. photograp register
ing apparatus which operates at the
same time as the camera. It is inclosed
in light, tight box, and the instant
that the shutter of the Photographic
camera is released and the exposure
made an aperture closed by the shutter
is uncovered through the burning Of the
match.
At the moment the aperture is uncoy-
cred the luminous rays strike the dial
and print the shadows Of the two needles
mechamsm and index needles) upon a
piece of sensitized paper with which
the dial is provided. To the thread at
tached to the shutter. and which gives
the exposure when burned, Is fixed a
piece of paper which at the same time
detaches itself and falls to the ground,
indicating to the operator that the ex-
posure has been made The kite is then
hauled in and the plate developed
Another curious form Of aerial photo
graphic apparatus Is being developed by
a French Inventor, NJ DenesSe. 1t con
sists Of Photographic camera attached
to a rocket. An umbrella ike parachute
is also fixed to the rocket stick. When
fired into the air this 5 closed. but as
soon as the rocket begins to descend II
opens out. and the whole returns grace
fully to the earth. In this the camera i
cylindrical in form and has round 1t,
circumference twelve len>eS-a sensitive
plate is in the center. The lenses ar