John T. Daniels

John Thomas Daniels, Jr. (July 31, 1873 – January 31, 1948)was the amateur photographer who took the photograph of the Wright brothers’ first flight on December 17, 1903. He was also a member of the Kill Devil Hills Life-Saving Station, and his cousin was North Carolina Senator Melvin Daniels.

Daniels later said that he was so excited by seeing the Flyer rising that he nearly forgot Orville Wright’s instructions to squeeze the bulb triggering the shutter. Of the photos taken during their 1903 stay in Kitty Hawk, this is one of the clearest, including a photo of the more dramatic third flight that was found to be blurry when processed.