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A collection of aerial photographs taken during the Second World War have been opened to the public for the first time.

The black and white images were taken by the US Army Air Forces (USAAF) Photographic Reconnaissance units, stationed at bases across England in 1943 and 1944, after the US joined the war in December 1941.

The 3,600 photographs offer a birds-eye view of the country as it changed during the Second World War, including bomb damage to towns and cities such as Old Trafford football stadium in Greater Manchester.

Damage to the main stand of the football ground can be seen in the photo, after it was hit in a bombing raid in March 1941. The home of Manchester United was not used again for football until 1949.

They also capture ancient monuments surrounded by anti-tank defences in West Sussex, such as Cissbury Ring Iron Age hillfort in Worthing where ditches and concrete cubes can be seen laid out to impede an enemy advance.

Meanwhile, there is low-level photograph showing part of a US Army camp in Wiltshire which shows firing ranges in the foreground while troops play a game of baseball in a recreation field in the top left of the image.

A photograph of Worthing Pier in West Sussex, taken in April 1944, also shows part of its decking removed to make an enemy landing more difficult, while an image taken on Christmas Eve in 1943 at Stonehenge in Wiltshire shows the markings highlighting the location of a First World War aerodrome and camp.

The collection, which capture a variety of locations and an “astonishing level of detail”, have been made available to the public for the first time in an online, searchable map on the Historic England Archive.

Duncan Wilson, chief executive of Historic England, said: “Our USAAF Collection records changes taking place in England as a result of the Second World War, as well as capturing fascinating incidental detail, like American troops playing baseball.

“Our collection of USAAF wartime photographs were taken in England by the pilots and aircraft of squadrons that provided intelligence for the eventual defeat of Nazi Germany. This came at a cost, with many pilots killed in the line of duty.

“We are making these images available to the public for the first time online, giving people access to this remarkable collection of historic photographs. They help to highlight the vital role aerial reconnaissance played in the Second World War.”

Fine art portrait photographer David Teran traveled the world with his 1969 Hasselblad 500C/M camera to capture beautiful black and white portraits of some of the most talented and powerful ballerinas. Teran has launched a Kickstarter campaign to celebrate the multi-year project to release a special book, Hasselblad Ballet.

“Over the past five years, I’ve taken from Hasselblad camera from 1969 around the world and photographed some of the most extraordinary ballerinas in 19 different countries using only one roll of Ilford black and white film,” Teran says.

“Drawing inspiration from the ballet world, David has meticulously curated an enchanting and sublime collection that showcases the grace and elegance of ballerinas from various countries around the world. David has crafted a visual masterpiece that pays homage to the artistry of both photography and ballet. Just as a ballet performance captures the essence of movement, David’s photography captures the heart and soul of each ballerina, creating a captivating narrative that unfolds with every image,” the Kickstarter campaign explains.

Teran describes his project as showcasing ballerinas in a quirky and whimsical way, bringing the talented dancers outside their typical studio surroundings and placing them in beautiful locations worldwide.

“Creating Hasselblad Ballet has been a true labor of love. This project has allowed me to combine my passion for photography (and food!) and the beauty of ballet in a way that is both unconventional and unique,” says David Teran.

The book features over 100 ballerinas photographed in 53 cities across 19 diverse countries. Teran worked with famed ballerinas such as Isabella Boylston from the American Ballet Theater and dancers from the Paris Opera Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, The Royal Danish Ballet, Dutch National Ballet, and many others.

Teran worked alongside Sofiane Sylve, the renowned artistic director of Ballet San Antonio, Teran’s hometown.

There is also an interesting juxtaposition between the speed and agility of ballerinas and Teran’s choice of camera. Unlike modern digital cameras, the Hasselblad 500C/M is a relatively slow camera that requires careful consideration for every shot.

The Hasselblad 500C/M, like other 500 series cameras, has played an important role in photographic and human history. Hasselblad 500C cameras have been into space. NASA astronaut Walter Schirra took a 500C aboard the Mercury rocket in 1962, making the Hasselblad 500C the first camera to “properly document space,” per Hasselblad.

Teran joins an illustrious group of photographers who have created art with Hasselblad 500-series cameras. Ansel Adams, Sid Avery, and Gered Mankowitz are just a few who have used 500 cameras to capture landscapes and portraits.

Teran’s all-or-nothing Kickstarter campaign is essentially a pre-sale for Hasselblad Ballet, with early bird pledging options for the book starting at $75.

A Limited-Edition Box Set option for $250 includes a signed copy of the book inside a linen cloth clamshell box. It also includes a handmade gelatin silver contact sheet. Each one-of-a-kind sheet has Teran’s darkroom markings, offering purchasers a look at the analog photographic process.

Additional backing options include digital phone backgrounds, a Hasselblad Ballet t-shirt, and limited-edition prints. All backing options and complete campaign details are available on Kickstarter.

If Hasselblad Ballet reaches its $33,400 campaign target, the book will begin shipping in May 2024. As of writing, the campaign, which started today, has earned just over $4,000 in funding. The campaign ends on September 20, 2023.

Disclaimer: Make sure you do your own research into any crowdfunding project you’re considering backing. While we aim to only share legitimate and trustworthy campaigns, there’s always a real chance that you can lose your money when backing any crowdfunded project.

Image credits: All images © David Teran. Additional images from “Hasselblad Ballet” are available on Teran’s website.