Motion Pictures

Eadweard Muybridge and other motion picture pioneers revolutionized both photography and theories of visual perception. By taking a series of photographs of animals running, Muybridge illustrated the limitations of the unaided eye in perceiving the split-second changes that occur when an object is in motion. His series of horses remains one of the most significant works in the history of both photography and of motion pictures. The still photos can be viewed individually but their power lies in their progression. The series revealed the potential of photography to not just capture an entire block of time, not just a singular moment.

Muybridge's zoopraxiscope allowed him to project the series of pictures together so that they could be viewed as a continuous whole. Predating celluloid film, the zoopraxiscope transformed still photographs into something like a short movie. Although not produced using celluloid film, Muybridge's work can be described as "moving pictures" or at least as animation (Dirks). His approach to photography gave rise to the potential of the motion picture and thus Muybridge can be considered a forefather of film.

From Muybridge's work, the leap toward full-fledged motion pictures was small. Etienne-Jules Marey also expanded the boundaries of photography by shooting a rapid sequence of shots: chronophotographs (Dirks). However, true motion pictures demanded new technologies. The invention of celluloid and the perfection of projection systems enabled the prototypes of motion pictures to evolve into movies.

Thomas Edison was also influenced by Muybridge's work with still photography and the zoopraxiscope. Edison's kinetiscope followed closely on the heels of Muybridge's earlier invention. Along with a plethora of similar devices, the zoopraxiscope and the kinetiscope paved the way for the evolution of the motion picture entertainment industry.

Works Cited

Dirks, Tim. "Film History Before 1920." Retrieved 12 Oct 2007 at http://www.filmsite.org/pre20sintro.html

History of Edison Motion Pictures." Retrieved 12 Oct 2007 at http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/edhtml/edmvhist.html

National Museum of American History. "Freeze Frame." Retrieved 12 Oct 2007 at http://americanhistory.si.edu/muybridge/

The Zoopraxiscope." Retrieved 12 Oct 2007 at http://www.kingston.gov.uk/browse/leisure/museum/museum_exhibitions/muybridge/machinery_and_equipment/zoopraxiscope.htm