Eduard Spelterini

• Born  Eduard Schweizer in 1852 in Switzerland. Before World War One Spelterini became a famous adventurer traveling the world in his gas balloon. During his adventures as a balloon pilot he began to take up aerial photography collecting hundreds of stunning landscapes as seen from above. Unfortunately for Spelterini with the onset of WWI he could no longer continue his carnival like travels. He died poor and largely unknown in 1931.
• I was very much drawn to Spelterini's photos at the Biennale they are to say the least Stunning. He captures so vividly mountain peaks and ancient glaciers in a way that simply hasn't been done. He clearly loved crossing the world in his balloon picking out only the most amazing and beautiful scenes so as to never forget the places he crossed over.  

Source: Degen, H.R.: "Eduard Spelterini (1852–1931)", p. 39-57 in Schweizer Flugtechniker und Ballonpioniere, Verein für wirtschaftshistorische Studien, Meilen. ISBN 3-909059-10-4. In German.