The first ever aerial photographs were taken by French photographer and balloonist Felix Rournachon, in Paris, in 1858. Since then the art has come a long way, initially propelled by a rapid advance in technology during the World Wars where aerial surveillance became absolutely necessary. Today, professional aerial photographers use these technologies to capture the world from a perspective we don't often get to experience. Aircraft, helicopters, drones, balloons, blimps, rockets, kites, parachutes, and even pigeon-mounted cameras are used to capture the stunning images of cities and landscapes, revealing how tiny our world really is. We've chosen 18 photographs taken from the skies to showcase the beauty of aerial photography.
An aerial shot of Gin Drinkers’ Bay in Hong Kong.
An aerial shot of Gin Drinkers’ Bay in Hong Kong. Read less
by Ian Read
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