A selection of Nadar's range, including photos by brother Adrien and son Paul, divided into four sections. Attribution has always been a challenge, because the Nadar studios were fluid enterprises, often collaborative, usually to Felix's benefit, especially when money and reputation were on the line. Each of the three men took amazing photographs, whether truly alone or with Nadar's oversight. I feel Adrien's approach was the most free and artistic, while Nadar had a more direct and conversational style. Paul benefitted greatly from the advances in technology, many of which he refined, and a more level-headed professional eye towards studio photography. The quality of the surviving photographs varies widely, mostly due to the cruelty of time and the early, crude processes. Many iconic images are actually reprints made by Paul twenty or more years after their creation.
Some photos of Nadar's aerial photos, ballooning, and various inventions, from lighting to cameras, and how Nadar used them in documentary photography. Nadar's parallel career as balloonist and aircraft enthusiast is smilar to Elon Musk's pursuit of Mars with Space X. Nearly 200,000 people turned out for some of the Géant's launches and passengers paid 1000 Fr to ride! Paul Nadar advanced the technology of photography by partnering with George Eastman (Kodak) and was instrumental in the promotion of instant photography with silver gelatin film, which eventually led to the Brownie camera and snapshot photography for the masses.
Some photos of Nadar's aerial photos, ballooning, and various inventions, from lighting to cameras, and how Nadar used them in documentary photography. Nadar's parallel career as balloonist and aircraft enthusiast is smilar to Elon Musk's pursuit of Mars with Space X. Nearly 200,000 people turned out for some of the Géant's launches and passengers paid 1000 Fr to ride! Paul Nadar advanced the technology of photography by partnering with George Eastman (Kodak) and was instrumental in the promotion of instant photography with silver gelatin film, which eventually led to the Brownie camera and snapshot photography for the masses.
Nadar lived to 1910, almost 90 years. The last 20 years were spent mostly outside of Paris, with Paul running the studio and using the Nadar name. More and more the patriarch, Nadar had a long shadow, but Paul advanced his craft, codified the studio business, published and lectured widely on the art and technology of photography, and oversaw the vast archive of images. There was and likely never will be a family as important to photography as the Nadars.
Nadar lived to 1910, almost 90 years. The last 20 years were spent mostly outside of Paris, with Paul running the studio and using the Nadar name. More and more the patriarch, Nadar had a long shadow, but Paul advanced his craft, codified the studio business, published and lectured widely on the art and technology of photography, and oversaw the vast archive of images. There was—and likely never will be—a family as important to photography as the Nadars.