**early life and career**

gaspard-félix tournachon, known by the pseudonym nadar, was a french photographer, caricaturist, journalist, novelist, balloonist, and proponent of heavier-than-air flight. born in paris in 1820, nadar's life was marked by innovation and creativity.

**photographic contributions**

nadar's photographic career began in 1853, with the opening of his studio at 113 rue st. lazare. he photographed a wide range of personalities, including politicians, stage actors, writers, painters, and musicians. notable subjects include:

• guizot, proudhon (politicians)
• sarah bernhardt, paulus (stage actors)
• hugo, baudelaire, sand, nerval, gautier, dumas (writers)
• corot, delacroix, millet (painters)
• liszt, rossini, offenbach, verdi, berlioz (musicians)

**aerial photography and innovations** in 1858, nadar became the first person to take aerial photographs using the wet plate collodion process. he pioneered the use of artificial lighting in photography, working in the catacombs of paris. this innovation led to his being the first to photograph from the air with his balloons and underground.

**notable works and legacy**

* le géant (the giant), a massive balloon constructed in 1863, inspired jules verne's five weeks in a balloon. nadar was the inspiration for the character of michael ardan in verne's from the earth to the moon. * his photographic portraits are held by many national collections, including the cleveland museum of art (https://ArtsDot.com/@@/d3yurb-gaspard-felix-tournachon-alexandre-dumas-pere-(1802-1870)).

**further reading and exploration**

* for more on nadar's life and work, visit https://ArtsDot.com/@/gaspard-félix tournachon * explore the musée des beaux-arts de carcassonne, which features works by renowned artists, at /en/art/show/art-d3apq7-en/ * learn about the life and art of gustave courbet at the musee courbet (https://ArtsDot.com/@@/a@d3cew9-il-museo-musee-national-jean-jacques-henner-di-parigi-francia)