After reading the Hemphill Changing Times article about the history of aerial imaging I was wondering how Batut would make the camera take a picture at the right time for his aerial images via balloon. The reading mentioned that in 1889 Arthur Batut published a whole book on how to use fuse timers for aerial imaging with kites. I would like to read up on that more and see the logistics behind it. Not only are those fuse timers helpful for aerial imaging for environmental science purposes and military intelligence, but it also probably helped out with the diffusion of stationary bombs and explosives for war purposes. I am familiar with how the simple wick fuse works with fireworks but I'm not sure how it would work with a camera.
After reading up on Batut's method a timer to take a picture I realized my conceptions of modern cameras interfered with my ability to think how he used a wick fuse to take a picture. Back then the cameras used film. What I believe happened according to the readings is that a shutter blocked all light from entering the lens and film of the camera. Then once the wick burned up after a couple minutes the shutter was released from the lens and the light was able to enter the film. That makes a lot more sense than having a burning wick somehow push a button on a camera.
After some more research from http://www.geog.ucsb.edu/~jeff/115a/history/kiteremotesensing.html I was able to clarify the method behind the fuse timer. Batut used a slow burning fuse that he had lit prior to sending the kite off. In addition, he manufactured the kite in such a way so that when the fuse burned up, it triggered the shutter to be released, the image was then captured onto the film and a white paper slip was ejected so he knew when to pull the kite back down to the ground. I find it very fascinating how he managed to get all the logistics right. He even predetermined the time it would take for the wick to burn up so that in the last seconds he would move with the directions of the wind so the kite would be more stable for a successful picture. I find this very fascinating how he was that creative and able to successfully take an aerial photograph in his time period.
http://arch.ced.berkeley.edu/kap/background/history1.html
http://arch.ced.berkeley.edu/kap/background/history1.html
