Arthur Batut (9 February 1846 – 19 January 1918) was a French photographer and pioneer of

aerial photography Aerial photography (or airborne imagery) is the taking of photographs from an aircraft or other flight, airborne platforms. When taking motion pictures, it is also known as aerial videography. Platforms for aerial photography include fixed-wi ...

Life

Batut was born in 1846 in

Castres Castres (; ''Castras'' in the Languedocian dialect, Languedocian dialect of Occitan language, Occitan) is the sole Subprefectures in France, subprefecture of the Tarn (department), Tarn Departments of France, department in the Occitania (adminis ...

, and developed interest in history, archeology and photography. His book on kite aerial photography appeared in 1890 and contained an aerial photograph taken in 1889 from a kite over Labruguière, where he spent most his life until he died there in 1918. It is believed that in 1887 or 1888 he was the first to use this method successfully. At the time, kite aerial photography had potential applications for

aerial reconnaissance Aerial reconnaissance is reconnaissance for a military or Strategy, strategic purpose that is conducted using reconnaissance aircraft. The role of reconnaissance can fulfil a variety of requirements including Artillery observer, artillery spott ...

, but also for agriculture and archeology. The first aerial photographs had been taken by

Nadar Gaspard-Félix Tournachon (; 5 April 1820 – 20 March 1910), known by the pseudonym Nadar () or Félix Nadar'','' was a French photographer, caricaturist, journalist, novelist, balloon (aircraft), balloonist, and proponent of History of avi ...

from a balloon in 1858. The use of unmanned kites promised obvious advantages in a military setting. Inspired by

Francis Galton Sir Francis Galton (; 16 February 1822 – 17 January 1911) was an English polymath and the originator of eugenics during the Victorian era; his ideas later became the basis of behavioural genetics. Galton produced over 340 papers and b ...

, he also produced composite photographs combining portraits of multiple people onto one plate.

Works

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References

Notes

External links

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Site devoted to Batut

{{DEFAULTSORT:Batut, Arthur Pioneers of photography 19th-century French photographers 1846 births 1918 deaths People from Castres