Demon Photographer: Adrian C. Duff

One hundred and twelve years ago this month a pioneering aviator took on a challenge to photograph New York City from the air. His solution was to strap pontoons onto his Wright flier and take along a photographer from the American Press Association. Just 21 years old, the photographer, Adrian C Duff, became known as “The Camera Kid.” But his exploits would lead to an even more colorful moniker: Adrian C Duff was The Demon Photographer.
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This is original content based on research by The History Guy. Images in the Public Domain are carefully selected and provide illustration. As very few images of the actual event are available in the Public Domain, images of similar objects and events are used for illustration.
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Script by THG
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[@Mr_Bunk]

He seems like the kind of guy to be welcomed to the pearly gates, only to decline so he can take snapshots of hell.

[@johnfun3394]

As a truck driver I see many crosses on the side of the roads all over the country where the setting looks so innocent and peaceful. Never imagining death was hiding here for someone. God Bless!

[@jeffthackston9572]

Great stuff. Duff was such an interesting character. Holding to your motto, “History that deserves to be remembered.” Mr. Duff does not even have a Wikipedia entry. How fortunate we are to have a person such as yourself to retell the “forgotten” history. Thank you.

[@arlenedavis5770]

You could make one.

[@WinterInTheForest]

I wonder what Duff if alive today would think about drones. Much has changed in a little over a century.

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

I think he’d still find a way to take risks.

[@andynieuwenhuis7833]

​@@TheHistoryGuyChannel It'd be Interesting to have You do a segment on the Halifax Explosion of 1917. Yes this is Halifax,Nova Scotia in Canada, I think some of Our American cousins will find it Interesting. There a close tie in with Boston,MASSACHUSETT Thanks from Andy of Ontario,Canada. S

[@CaptainJerry-]

I am a Merchant Mariner and was arrested, for no reason, in Tampico in 2004. My Captain and State Department had me released the next day with a police apology.

[@DaRatier]

He'd make a great bio pic movie! Such a dramatic and daring career despite such a sad and sudden end. Thanks for the fascinating video!

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

Or a television series.

[@ChrisMcCarroll]

I was just thinking that. I would love to make the story.

[@PopCultureFan_]

You can say that twice..lol​@@TheHistoryGuyChannel

[@RCAvhstape]

Hollywood would have to find some kind of flaw in him to make the story dramatic. He'd be a fearless photographer who beats his wife or some nonsense.

[@irtheLeGiOn]

If they kept the cameras and technics authentic, it would be an amazing movie. Like Under Fire or The Killing Fields.

[@klaatubaradanikto6554]

The History Guy once again sifts through history and finds the most fascinating but overlooked people and puts the spotlight on them for our edification and enjoyment

[@LuckyBaldwin777]

Duff was the original discoverer that the cameraman never dies.

[@andrewfischer8564]

unforunatly thats not true

[@Nicksonian]

The beginning, and end of photojournalism. I have unending respect for Duff and many like him. As a career (retired) photojournalist myself, the closest thing to danger I ever faced was venturing out into blizzards and hurricanes. Duff was a pioneer in the then growing profession that would capture the public’s attention through magazines such as Life, Look, National Geographic, and many others. Alas, the profession of photojournalist has almost evaporated in but a blink of history. As the internet first began to chip away at news organizations, photojournalists were the first positions to be cut, and today, there is little opportunity to make a living as a photojournalist.

[@poetryflynn3712]

Just like writing and a lot of other fields. The 20th century was one of the golden ages for man where they could do whatever they like and no one would bat an eye. Now we're in the 21st where opportunities evaporate as quick as only five years, and starting a business can fail with a single tug of someone's heart.

[@mikeseier4449]

I thoroughly enjoy when you have videos covering obscure people and events that most of us never knew about, Thank you.👍

[@marvwatkins7029]

News Photographers (assuming that they still exist) should have an annual award established in this name.

[@reallyseriously7020]

Intrepidity - The History Guy is determined to educate us all in small ways as well as large ones. Thanks History Guy!

[@JustMe-cr1dr]

I can't imagine the INSANE amount of research that goes into every one of your videos! Thank you so much for another great lesson from The History Guy. I always come away having learned something new. PA, USA

[@drzarkov39]

Wow! What a bio for Hollywood! Instead of doing remakes of previous films or adding to the plethora of fantasy movies, Hollywood should dig into the lives of the many fantastic people like Adrian C. Duff.

[@marydesmond9595]

Hollywood would just screw it up.

[@michaelsadams524]

Wow! What an amazing individual! History Guy, thank you for sharing the story of Adrian C. Duff!

[@user-oh2hs6jh5x]

Good Morning History Fans, please be seated.

[@laserbeam002]

What a wonderful story. Thank you for bringing the history of Adrian Duff to us. I don't think we produce very many men like him these days.

[@kendisdai23]

Flying a plane at the time was about as safe and as pleasant as piloting a chest of drawers down a mine shaft.

[@RetiredSailor60]

Good Friday morning History Guy and everyone watching. Class is back in session. My grandfather was acquainted with Charles Lindbergh in the 30s. My father was a private pilot for 61 years.

[@JillShaw]

A sturdy smiling fellow💔 so sad . What a guy💜

[@trublgrl]

What a great tribute to an astonishing man. Thank you!

[@philliphawkins6905]

History Guy, As always, you do an excellent job at bringing history to life! Your concluding comments also bring about the emotions of losing a brave soul, a fine American and a pioneering photographer. Adrian C. Duff deserves a deeper dive! I am going to search out as much of his known images as I can find. I am certain that I will not be disappointed! Thank you!

[@lesliegregory9118]

Love your channel! History bored me in school, so I didn't like it. I love it now. Your channel is one reason I can't get enough. You bring history alive. Thank you!

[@candyflair7946]

Same for me.

[@eyeessee]

Thank you. It is the first time I have heard about this photographer 📸

[@stevegallagher687]

Another great piece. This is one I didn't know. Thanks HG

[@scorpiopariah8573]

There are two people I enjoy hearing stories from..."The History Guy" and A.J. from "The Why Files". Two of the best ever.

[@LymanPhillips]

You'd also like "Our Own Devices." Give it a try.

[@scorpiopariah8573]

@@LymanPhillips thank you, sir....;

[@harryschaefer8563]

Thanks for another enjoyable episode. My first flight in an airplane was when my boss sent me up to photograph a factory site in Edgewater New Jersey alongside the Hudson River. I sat in the front seat of a seaplane that took off from the Hackensack River. I had to attach the door to the overhead wing, loosen my seat belt to lean out the side with my camera to get a good angle. My boss Mr. Morton Sobin piloted "superfortress" bombers equipped for aerial reconnaissance (once returning as the only survivor thanks to the extra armor beneath the pilot's seat), this I found out from his son-in-law ,at s high school reunion. Mr. Sobin never discussed his war experiences.

[@colindeer4908]

Great presentation. Many thanks . A great show . Really appreciate you and the show sir.

[@perryallen7663]

Great story, History Man! Do we have such modern heroes?

[@njpaddler]

Jim Nachtwey, Don McCullin, many pthers.

[@HM2SGT]

*Sounds like a scene from **_The Great Waldo Pepper_*

[@dedcowbowee]

I loved learning about this great pioneer. Great video!

[@williamromine5715]

It's interesting how both he and General Patton went thru the dangers of battles without any injuries, to die in minor car accidents where they were the only ones to be killed.

[@tedmcclure4047]

Wow! Great research!

[@mollybell5779]

I had never heard of him. Thank you so much, HG. Your work is one of the bright spots in my day. Happy Friday! 😁

[@sofa_king_kool]

Here i thought it was gonna be like Road to Perdition... Wonderful stuff as always Guy!

[@sashaconrad3939]

I thought the same thing!

[@ThailandTerry2024]

Another amazing man’s moment time. It’s sad that he didn’t survive the automobile crash after all he went through …

[@lesterjargus5311]

As a guy who has ridden a motorcycle in Winter in the mountain west, "frozen to the bone" is a sensation I am familiar with.

[@WhaleGold]

It seems that photographers sometimes put getting a good photo ahead of their own safety. I am not a professional although I have had a few of my photos published, been on TV, and in museums. Not nearly as bad as Mr Duff, but while in the Navy in Singapore there was a snake charmer. I was squatted down with my movie camera when he opened the basked and apparently the snake was sleeping, so he rapped it on its head and a cobra came out very fast and headed toward the crowed. I could see thru my viewer and out my other eye the whole crowd turning around and running, while I stayed there and zoomed in. Back on ship one guy was telling shipmates about my odd behavoir.

[@ajnormandgroome]

Thanks

[@ignazratski-ratski9760]

Thanks!

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

Thank you!

[@mynameisworld]

Nice video. I like that there's no music so we who have hearing disabilities can hear the narrator!

[@njpaddler]

James Nachtwey has somehow inherited Duff's DNA, as have others in that profession. Thanks, Lance.

[@zeusathena26]

I can imagine being on a plane, having just taken off, & the pilot announces his name when making their introduction.😂

[@russwoodward8251]

Wow. Really great story. Thanks.

[@djosbun]

Such an amazing story! Thank you!

[@pinksugarcookies71]

Such wonderful stories you share with us. Thank you

[@williamjones4716]

The cold weather, with denser air (density altitude), no doubt improved the aircraft performance and made the two-man NYC flight easier.

[@kmlammto]

Have you done a video about the American ambulance drivers who served in Europe prior to the USA entering the war (like Hemingway)? My grandfather served in that group.. He died before I was born, but I always wondered if he met Hemingway; although I know my grandfather would not have liked Ernest because of the letter’s antics. My; uncle (the eldest son of that grandfather) served as a combat medic during WWII and I was a volunteer EMT for several years in Maryland. I guess we just live to rescue.

[@mikenixon2401]

Wow, great report.

[@kellybasham3113]

Love your videos

[@BasicDrumming]

I appreciate you and thank you for making content.

[@stevecausey545]

Very cool! I've an slr since I was 12...photogs are always my heros

[@jonathonmcglew4992]

love New content!

[@coling3957]

I was hoping it would be about someone taking photographs of demons.

[@dannystaton5386]

Greetings history dude

[@williamwalls9768]

Ive never liked bow ties but my dudes making me rethink my stance

[@sallycormier1383]

Duff looks like Radar O’Reilly in that shot of him in the army with the movie camera on tripod!😊 I wonder if he took any of the photographs I have from WWI on stereoscope cards?

[@HM2SGT]

I had a similar thought, only it was Bill Mauldin

[@djd1121]

That could make a decent movie script....

[@Bigfarmer8]

As a lover of photography this is a fantastic story! Small note: In 1914 the Germans did not invade The Netherlands. The Netherlands remained neutral throughout the First World War.

[@spn4473]

Ha! THE FIRST DRONE!

[@randelbrooks]

as a photographer and filmmaker myself I can certainly identify with the young man I am so sad that he died in a car wreck. It's happened to some of my friends too.

[@jeffbangkok]

6 AM at the mango farm. Coffee and music with THG

[@steveshoemaker6347]

🇺🇸Adrian C Duff was a hero of his time....Thank the amazing THG🎀 Old sick F-4 2 Shoe🇺🇸

[@julienielsen3746]

I thought he took photos of demons.

[@HoopTY303]

At 10:05 while you were saying Duff went to France as a Sergeant the photo shows him in uniform with only 2 chevrons making him a Corporal but the single bar on his cap makes it look like he is a Lieutenant! This all very confusing!

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

The photo is odd. He was given a commission, but I don’t know why he would have had a corporal’s jacket.

[@abnurtharn2927]

Sad that a so remarkable life and career should come to a so unremarkable end.

[@bigsarge2085]

✌️✌️

[@ChrisMcCarroll]

As a professional photographer, I’d love the story

[@jkilby27able]

👍👍👍👍

[@greghuffman3061]

Get them demons

[@ralphcantrell3214]

Why in the world wouldn’t they wait till Spring and its better temperatures?

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

The papers did not mention the reason for the timing. I am just guessing, but I suspect there was just a hurry to be first.

[@Jezeppi1]

Why not do it in the SUMMER 😮😮😮😮???????????

[@rwarren58]

The cameraman. In a day before we video everything, he was the first. No, Mathew Brady showed us the aftermath but not a single battle in action.

[@elcastorgrande]

The Germans did not go through the Netherlands in 1914. They went through Belgium and Luxembourg.

[@johnnessuno6515]

Reading

[@sparky6086]

My Uncle Abb piloted landing craft in North Africa landings, Italy landings. & D-Day Normandy, France landings only to be killed in a car accident, just a couple of years after the war.

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

So sorry for your loss. Yes, it is a sad irony to survive war only to be killed by the mundane risks of life.

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

So sorry for your loss. Yes, it is a sad irony to survive war only to be killed by the mundane risks of life.

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

So sorry for your loss. Yes, it is a sad irony to survive war only to be killed by the mundane risks of life.

[@fredcloud9668]

A real man.

[@danielmclaughlin2190]

March 7th...

[@thedolt9215]

What a shame, that the once proud and balanced forth estate has become the fifth column…

[@lucinda2329]

❤ ✿❧🌿❧✿ ❤

[@bobcastro9386]

Imagine if Duff had lived longer and covered the Second World War. His fame and photos would almost certainly been greater.

[@PopCultureFan_]

I wish something would be done finally about the obvious spam bitcoin comment, and the bot acounts that all comment to them! 🤔, bots who just comment amongst themselves just seem to pathetic and sad to me, but i know its supposed to make them seem more legit to gullable people but it just seems like desperation. I report when i see them Mr History guy.

[@northdetroit7994]

TT

[@ashergoney]

225 am ist on 28022024.. October 24 2001 Onwards till 31032004 .. In The Region Post WW2. In The Port City of Formerly known as Calcutta now Renamed Kolkata Since 2001 Onwards.. Bookship Dry Docked Since 2018. US Library In The Region Shut Down Since 2011 December as Connected To 911 Dials From The Region.

[@merlinwizard1000]

53rd, 16 February 2024

[@user-kj5yi2gh8f]

Public qualified immunity

[@shawnbottom4769]

Who in their right mind would go up in an open aircraft in February in New York? That's literal nonsense.

[@keithkearns93]

I noticed that Americans could spell aeroplane back in the day .

[@JamesSmith-mz9ec]

Thought the title meant he was taking pics of Hillary!

[@SweetUareDesi]

Is this man married?

[@patrickfreeman8257]

OK, just as a public service announcement...don't ever get into and airplane piloted by a guy named "Coffin"...just sayin'

[@BrickJonesey]

1st amendment 🫡🇺🇸🏆🎥🥦

[@3nheaven]

Hillarys dad

[@jeanne-marie8196]

Thanks!

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

Thank you!