Former CIA Chief of Disguise Breaks Down Cold War Spy Cameras | WIRED

During the Cold War, surveillance in Moscow was the most difficult kind of surveillance that the US had encountered around the globe. There are lots of was to collect intelligence, and cameras were former CIA Chief of Disguise Jonna Mendez's favorite. Jonna talks about all the different photography methods US spies used during the Cold War, from carrier pigeons holding tiny cameras to a variety of different spy cameras that could be hidden in pens, ties and pocketbooks.




Additional Archival Images Courtesy of:

Image of Matchbox Camera courtesy of the CIA, who does not endorse the contents of this production.

Getty
Library of Congress, Geography and Map Division



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Former CIA Chief of Disguise Breaks Down Cold War Spy Cameras | WIRED

[myroslavasyrotenko]

That microdot is literally incredible! Can’t believe something like that existed at those times

[ratatataraxia]

Jonna Mendez needs her own channel, like yesterday.

[Dazen]

Knowing me, I would lose the microdot trying to put it on the lens

[brandonk]

With how old this technology is, I can’t imagine what they’re using today. People say “birds aren’t real” I wonder how many really aren’t.

[seansengpiel]

It’s scary that they had that tech that long ago imagine what they have now

[kingarthurkingofthebritons]

I wonder how many agents dropped the dot and spent hours looking for it on the floor

[aprilchiginsky]

This woman is so incredibly inspiring and such a joy to listen to her speak. Her stories are absolutely fascinating.

[vansikapandey]

Somewhere an old Russian army guard "of course it was the f*cking pigeon."

[davidlambert]

I need that microdot technology for my final exams!

[hindsightpov]

This lady is always a lot of fun. Keep bringing her back, please.

[BabyK]

I love when videos with Jonna get uploaded she’s a delight to listen to

[madame_milky]

that microdot method is absolutely insane

[anmolhaze]

This scares me I mean the things we see here was done in the 60s and just imagine what they're capable or rn

[chrisu.]

Fun Fact: Jonna's in disguise the entire time she shoots these.

[Dr_Duck]

We not going to talk about whos taking the photos of them taking photos?

[caseylocke]

The Microdot...ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! We actually had that kind of technology back then?! How in the world did they have technology advanced enough at that time to print distinct letters that didn't bleed together in such a tiny space??? I find this absolutely incredible! Can you even imagine what we have these days that won't be revealed for another 50 years or whatever?

[tttITA]

Good god this series with Jonna is AMAZING.

Also... that microdot stuff. I want to see one of those!

[harveysanchez]

The microdot actually surprised me beyond belief.

[stargazer]

What really surprised me is how, way back then, they could get photos in focus. Like, today if you take a "spy" photo with your Iphone and it's not still, the pic will come out blurry enough not to be able to read documents. These photos are sharp and centered. If you were to take that body cam and take a photo, you'd have to look a little awkward standing completely still at a weird angle taking the

[cphr]

So, this is how the FBI/CIA pigeons meme started