1908 Julius Neubronner – Aerial Photograph from a Homing Pigeon

Julius Neubronner’s pigeons first captured aerial photos, setting the stage for unprecedented bird’s-eye views.

Neubronner's use of pigeons for aerial photography presented new perspectives from the skies. In the early 20th century, Neubronner developed miniature, lightweight cameras with automatic triggers, attaching them to pigeons via non-restrictive harnesses. These cameras captured unprecedented bird’s-eye views, offering a novel visual perspective that expanded human understanding of landscapes and cities.

This technique not only pushed the boundaries of photographic technology but also laid the groundwork for modern drone technology. Neubronner’s work bridged art and science, inspiring the exploration of new photographic techniques and perspectives, transforming both the technical landscape of photography and its creative expression.

Credit: Dr Julius Neubronner, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Author: Neubronner, D. J. (1908).
Title: unknown
Date: 1908
Archive: Rorhof / Stadtarchiv Kronberg
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Original file: 2,835 × 1,200 pixels, file size: 510 KB
Description: Aerial images from Julius Neubronner's camera strapped to a homing pigeon
Available information: Rorhof / Stadtarchiv Kronberg via https://www.newyorker.com/culture/photo-booth/the-turn-of-the-century-pigeons-that-photographed-earth-from-above

Additional credits (left to right): Image 1: Agence Rol, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. Image 2: Published in Dawn, October 15th, 2019. Image 3: Dr Julius Neubronner, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons