Question

When did French map-makers use a hot air balloon?
A. 1958
B. 1858
C. 1950
D. 1860

Answer 1

Hint: In 1785, an Englishman by the name of Thomas Baldwin pioneered this method, making acute observations over Chester, about the cloud formations, building perspective and water bodies.

Complete answer: Option B is correct.
- Primitive cameras and equipment were used to capture images from a bird’s eye point of view and obtained inclined or oblique pictures.
- Gaspard Tournachon was the one who got on a hot air balloon’s gondola, when there were not any safe ways of travelling airborne, to try to record the sights of Paris.
- Even the maps that were consequently made were used by the military (surveillance and scouting by the Americans during the civil war) to form battle strategy and promote tourism.
- This process was an ordeal for multiple reasons. The wicker basket where the people stood would sway easily, making it unsafe. The method of wet-plate photography followed then needed equipment to be kept in absolute darkness which was difficult in the open, and so high up. Even if you overcame all this, you had to ensure it was developed in a couple minutes’ time.
- In the 1920s, many countries began attempts at making photo atlases with synchronized cameras. This also gave private actors to enter the scene and make similar topographical maps as well.

Therefore, the answer is 1858, when odd methods like using pigeons and rockets were also used.

Note: Balloon corps were established, and the method of image capturing used was known as daguerreotypes, after Louis Dagguere, the French man who gave us what we call photographs today.