He called it his “Captive Airship,” and though George R. Lawrence could not have known it at the time, his invention would serve as a very early precursor to the camera-equipped drones of today. But then, the commercial photographer from Chicago was anything but shortsighted. Though he’s best remembered for his inventions—world’s largest camera, flash photography—he was also a pioneer in the business of pictures. Prints of his 1906 aerial photo of earthquake-ruined San Francisco sold scores of copies, from which he earned over $15,000 (close to $400,000 in today’s terms).

Lawrence was a true pragmatist. He only started using kites after the hydrogen balloon carrying him and his camera failed at 200 feet. Needless to say, the fall left him shook. But his response—a custom rig of kites and cables designed to carry a lightweight camera—would ensure Lawrence was no longer needed up top. A magnetic shutter release could be triggered by electric current running up the wire.