Arthur Batut facts for kids
Arthur Batut (born February 9, 1846 – died January 19, 1918) was a French photographer. He was a true pioneer in the world of photography, especially known for his work with aerial photography. This means taking pictures from high up in the sky!
Who Was Arthur Batut?
Arthur Batut was born in 1846 in a town called Castres, France. From a young age, he was very interested in history, old buildings (archaeology), and, of course, photography. He loved exploring and capturing the world around him.
Taking Pictures from the Sky
Batut became famous for a special way of taking photos: using kites! He figured out how to attach a camera to a kite and send it high into the air. This was a super new idea at the time. In 1889, he took an amazing aerial photo from a kite over Labruguière, a town where he lived most of his life.
His book about kite aerial photography came out in 1890. Many people believe he was the first person to successfully use this method, possibly as early as 1887 or 1888.
Why Aerial Photos Were Important
At that time, taking pictures from the sky was a big deal. It had many possible uses. For example, it could help with aerial reconnaissance (looking at areas from above for military reasons). It was also useful for studying farms (agriculture) and ancient sites (archaeology).
Before Batut, the first aerial photos were taken from a balloon in 1858 by a photographer named Nadar. But using unmanned kites had clear advantages, especially for military purposes, as it was safer and easier than using a balloon.
