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# Early 20th-Century Kite Cameras, the Pre-Drones
- URL: https://hyperallergic.com/early-20th-century-kite-cameras-the-pre-drones/
- Published: 2014-09-08T15:01:37.000Z
- Updated: 2025-11-24T16:32:52.000Z
- Description: "The hitherto impossible in photography is our specialty," was the motto of early 20th-century photographer George R. Lawrence's Chicago studio. Among Lawrence's great experiments was the use of kites for aerial photography.
- Author: Allison Meier
- Tags: Art, apexart, Photography, #wp, #wp-post, #image-position-hidden, #Import 2025-11-24 07:03 (2014, 2015, part 1)

![Kites used to support George R. Lawrence camera equipment, circa 1900-1910.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2014/08/kiteslawrence.jpg)

George R. Lawrence, Kites used to support aerial camera equipment, 1900-1910, reproduction of photographic print image (courtesy of Chicago History Museum & Apexart)

“The hitherto impossible in photography is our specialty,” [was the motto](http://www.npr.org/blogs/pictureshow/2014/01/15/260152557/before-drone-cameras-kite-cameras?ref=hyperallergic.com) of early 20th-century photographer George R. Lawrence’s Chicago studio. Among Lawrence’s great experiments, such as [the largest camera in the world](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:The%5Fgiant%5Fcamera.jpg?ref=hyperallergic.com) built to capture the full length of a new train, was the use of kites for aerial photography.

![George R. Lawrence camera equipment in the sky, supported by several kites, circa 1900-1910.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2014/08/lawrencecamera.jpg)

George R. Lawrence’s camera equipment in the sky, 1900-1910, reproduction of photographic print image (courtesy of Chicago History Museum & Apexart)

A sort of pre-drone, Lawrence strung together up to 17 Conyne kites to lift a 49 pound camera 2,000 feet into the sky. Using piano wire and a battery’s current, he triggered the shutter from the ground, then allowed the contraption to descend via parachute. Most famously he launched his “Captive Airship,” as he [called it,](http://petapixel.com/2013/06/19/the-captive-airship-george-lawrences-panoramic-kite-photography-rig/?ref=hyperallergic.com) above San Francisco three weeks following the disastrous 1906 earthquake. It was such an incredibly detailed view of the flattened city that some of his contemporaries [thought it was a faked composite](http://cabinetmagazine.org/issues/32/turner.php?ref=hyperallergic.com).

That photograph, along with images of his train of kites and the camera itself, is featured in [*Decolonized Skies*](http://apexart.org/exhibitions/messer-reich.php?ref=hyperallergic.com) opening this week at Manhattan’s Apexart. Organized by [High&Low Bureau](http://www.hlbureau.org/?ref=hyperallergic.com), the exhibition won the nonprofit’s Unsolicited Proposal Program, and is focusing on a “civil-oriented visual” of aerial perspectives through both contemporary and historic practitioners.

We’re now a long way from Lawrence’s kites in terms of viewing our world from above (although kite aerial photography [is still practiced ](http://arch.ced.berkeley.edu/kap/discuss/?ref=hyperallergic.com)by a small group), but the access to those views continues to expand with new technology. Below is the famous San Francisco earthquake shot, as well as more of Lawrence’s aerial views [from the Library of Congress](http://www.loc.gov/pictures/search/?q=LOT%205785&fi=number&op=PHRASE&va=exact&co!=coll&sg=true&st=gallery&ref=hyperallergic.com).

![Panorama of the ruins of San Francisco, California after the earthquake in 1906. Photograph was taken by the George R. Lawrence Captive Airship.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2014/08/sanfrancsicoshot.jpg)

George R. Lawrence, San Francisco earthquake ruins, 1906, B&W reproduction of photographic print image (courtesy of Chicago History Museum & Apexart)

![George R. Lawrence, San Francisco in ruins, from 500 feet above Hyde & Green streets (1906) (via Library of Congress)](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2014/08/glawrence7.jpg)

George R. Lawrence, San Francisco in ruins, from 500 feet above Hyde & Green streets (1906) (via Library of Congress)

![George R. Lawrence, San Francisco in ruins (1906) (via Library of Congress)](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2014/08/glawrence8.jpg)

George R. Lawrence, San Francisco in ruins (1906) (via Library of Congress)

![George R. Lawrence, San Francisco in ruins from 1,500 feet, with Nob Hill in the foreground (1906) (via Library of Congress)](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2014/08/glawrence9.jpg)

George R. Lawrence, San Francisco in ruins from 1,500 feet, with Nob Hill in the foreground (1906) (via Library of Congress)

![George R. Lawrence, Akron Works, Akron, Ohio (1907) (via Library of Congress)](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2014/08/glawrence1.jpg)

George R. Lawrence, Akron Works, Akron, Ohio (1907) (via Library of Congress)

![George R. Lawrence, El Pizmo Beach (1906) (via Library of Congress)](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2014/08/glawrence2.jpg)

George R. Lawrence, El Pizmo Beach (1906) (via Library of Congress)

![George R. Lawrence,Bird's eye view of Prospect Park, South, Brooklyn (1907) (via Library of Congress)](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2014/08/glawrence3.jpg)

George R. Lawrence, Bird’s eye view of Prospect Park, South, Brooklyn (1907) (via Library of Congress)

![George R. Lawrence, San Francisco from Captive Air Ship over San Francisco Bay (with the stabilizers visible) (1908) (via Library of Congress)](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2014/08/glawrence5.jpg)

George R. Lawrence, San Francisco from Captive Air Ship over San Francisco Bay (with the stabilizers visible) (1908) (via Library of Congress)

![George R. Lawrence, Fleet entering Golden Gate (1908) (via Library of Congress)](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2014/08/glawrence6.jpg)

George R. Lawrence, Fleet entering Golden Gate (1908) (via Library of Congress)

[Decolonized Skies](http://apexart.org/exhibitions/messer-reich.php?ref=hyperallergic.com) *is at Apexart (291 Church Street, Tribeca, Manhattan) September 11 to October 25\.*