SUMMARY
In 1858, French balloonist Nadar captured the first aerial photograph from a tethered balloon over Petit-Bicêtre, France. However, this image, along with other early aerial photographs by Nadar, has been lost to time. The oldest surviving aerial photograph was taken on October 13, 1860, by American photographer James Wallace Black, who ascended in a gas balloon over Boston. This image, titled "Boston, as the Eagle and the Wild Goose See It," is the earliest surviving aerial view of a city.
TAKEAWAYS
The first aerial photograph was taken in 1858 by Nadar from a balloon.
Nadar's 1858 aerial photograph is lost and does not survive.
The oldest surviving aerial photograph was taken in 1860 by James Wallace Black over Boston.
Taking early aerial photographs involved complex wet collodion processes in challenging conditions.