Wanganui, New Zealand

Born in Illinois, Vaniman (1866-1912) led an eccentric life as a farmer, music teacher, opera singer, photographer, balloonist and pioneer aeronaut. From 1902 to 1904, he was commissioned by the Oceanic Steamship Company to photograph locations in New Zealand and Australia for tourist promotion. In order to achieve a high vantage point, he not only erected 30 metre high poles to elevate his self-built camera, but also moved on to floating in gas-filled balloons. His dare-devil antics earned him the nickname "the acrobatic photographer".