The Scottish National Portrait Gallery will take to the skies and see the world from above the clouds through the remarkable work of Alfred Buckham: Daredevil Photographer. A trailblazer in his field, Buckham (1879-1956), a Fellow of the Royal Photographic Society, soared above the realms of what was thought to be possible in twentieth century photography and aviation. He moved aerial photography from straight documentary bringing to it an artistic and pictorial aesthetic. From 18 October 2025– 9 April 2026, meet the man behind some of the most iconic aerial photographs, marvel at the death-defying lengths he took to capture the perfect image and explore how his innovative techniques paved the way for modern technologies such as Photoshop and AI.
Anne Lyden, Director-General at the National Galleries of Scotland said 'We're really excited to announce our 2025 public programme, which is packed full of fantastic exhibitions. Breathtaking installations at the Royal Scottish Academy, soaring above the clouds at the Portrait gallery, and modern and contemporary highlights from your national collection at the Moderns. Whether you want to be inspired, find a moment of calm or share a joyful experience with friends - there's so much to discover at the National Galleries of Scotland.'
Image: Alfred G. Buckham, Aerial View over Edinburgh, c.1920. Scottish National Portrait Gallery collection.
Comments
From the one reference shown of that stunning aerial photo one can't help but further read up about this extrordinary photographer ~ There's a website of comprehensive material set up by his family for Captain Alfred G. Buckham. https://alfredbuckham.co.uk/uk/
I also added a few more details yesterday to his Wikipedia entry - although plenty more to say. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_Buckham There was a book published a few years ago which is now out of print but remains expensive on the secondhand market.