George R. Lawrence (1868–1938) was an American photographer renowned for his innovative contributions to large-format and aerial photography. Born in Ottawa, Illinois, he established the Geo. R. Lawrence Company in Chicago, adopting the slogan, “The Hitherto Impossible in Photography is Our Specialty.”
In 1900, Lawrence constructed the world’s largest camera to capture a single image of the Chicago & Alton Railway’s Alton Limited train. The camera weighed 1,400 pounds and utilized a glass plate measuring 8 feet by 4.5 feet. The resulting photograph earned the “Grand Prize of the World” at the 1900 Exposition Universelle in Paris.
Lawrence also pioneered aerial photography, initially using manned balloons to capture elevated views. After experiencing a near-fatal accident when a balloon malfunctioned, he transitioned to using unmanned kites to lift cameras. This technique led to his iconic 1906 photograph, “San Francisco in Ruins,” taken from 2,000 feet above the city shortly after the devastating earthquake.
Beyond photography, Lawrence ventured into aviation design in the 1910s, securing numerous patents for aviation-related devices. He passed away in 1938 at the age of 70.
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Quick View - California, San Francisco
Bird’s-eye-view of ruins of San Francisco from captive airship, 600 feet above Folsom between Fifth and Sixth Sts.
- $2,400
- Massive, dramatic panoramic photograph surveying the devastation of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire.
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