‘There is a pleasure and beauty in this fragmenting of time that had little to do with what was happening. It had to do, rather, with seeing the momentary patterning of lines and shapes that had been previously concealed within the flux of movement.’
(Swarkowski,2007, p.5)
In Part Two we draw a parallel between the evolution of photography and the technological development of the lens. Another way of tracing the development of photography is through the introduction of ever faster exposure times. The earliest exposures took several hours (the ‘world’s first photograph’ by
It wasn’t until 1877 that improvements in film film speeds and electronic shutters allowed Eadweard Muybridge (1830-1904) to achieve exposure times that captured movement as a still image. Muybridge provided visual proof for the first time of something that had evaded human perception for centuries: a horse gallops with all four feet off the ground. Suddenly the camera allowed human beings to see beyond the limits of their own eyes, ‘break down the world and to dissect motion’.
Muybridge’s experiments were followed in 1906 by AM Worthington’s (1852-1916) series of drops and splashes made at even shorter durations, and then in 1939 by Harold Edgerton’s (1903-90) beautiful photographs of the ‘milk coronet’, many of which were published in LIFE magazine: https://edgerton-digital-collections.org/
These three men were the pioneers in what has come to be recognised as a defining characteristic of the medium – the ability to freeze movement in a fraction of a second.
The aesthetics properties of milk.
The technical properties of the shutter.
One of the most influential bodies of work in recent years has been Philip-Lorca DiCorcia’s ‘Heads’. These moments are really icy and there’s no loneliness like that of the crowd. DiCoria discusses his method in Tateshots here:
http://www.tate.org.uk/context-comment/video/exposed-philip-lorca-dicoria
Does the camera capture time in these images? Or does it fragment it, as Szarkowski believed, isolating thin slices to reveal something new?
Project 1 The Frozen Moment.
It’s interesting that the photographers mentioned in this project demonstrated to the viewer the evoking of attraction, a drawing of our attention and extending of our understanding of the instrument. These pioneers were so important as they changed the course for us with their positive impact, their many experimentations throughout the years resulted in the resemblance connecting the development of processing and the practice of taking photographs. The experiments these pioneers have shown us is the recording of the process of exposures over time. Louis Daguerre introduced the first detailed shots which showed the process of taking several minutes of exposure in the camera.
YouTube.com – Early Photography: Making Daguerreotypes
The pioneers evolved as photographers and technology advanced and they demonstrated evidence of proficiency. As mentioned, these photographers began introducing the viewer to a more creative process using various techniques. Such as Eadweard Muybridge, whom exhibited various aspects and examples of movement in pictures. He was known as ‘the father of motion pictures’ Which my research unquestionably concurs.
In the year 1872, Muybridge was challenged to experiment with the comprehension of whether the galloping horse actually lifted all four legs at the same time. This experiment was achieved by using various techniques and methods to capture motion.
The horses movement is swift, at full speed and is captured by Muybridge using multiple procedures to capture motion. Today with the knowledge of our instrument we are able to seize opportunities and moments.
Having researched Muybridge and his numerous experiments and observations I am flabbergasted and so very grateful at his tenacious experimentation, harbingering photography for all. His series was ensued by many others.
In order for Muybridge to further develop the theory of whether horses could have four legs off the ground and freezing movement in a fraction of a sec, Muybridge continued experimentation with his techniques and developing further skills capturing images of motion. Scientific assessments of motion continue and as we advance so does our understanding and development of new technology.
In physics, motion is the change in the position of an object over time. Motion is mathematically described in terms of displacement, speed, and time… one can also speak of motion of images, shapes and boundaries
Motion – Wikipedia
Motion blur is partly what part three is about, and I understand that the importance of being creative with the speed of or motion in exposure is paramount. Learning various techniques such as an old method known as ‘stop-motion‘ which used by Muybridge was the technique of using multiple cameras in capturing motion or the knowledge of… helps one to understand the process and how modernisation too has helped us photographers to advance. Muybridge was responsible for the invention known as ‘zoopraxiscope’ – showing the sequence of still images in expeditious flow. There are many examples of methods of capturing movement; ‘panning’ can take awhile to master. One shot I took below is an attempt at capturing movement;
Canon 760D. 35mm. AV. ISO:
Alike, the pioneers such as Harold Edgerton whom used this technique to capture the blur effect too. For more visual images and information of my personal photography please see;
https://claireclarkblog.wordpress.com/3108-2/ https://claireclarkblog.wordpress.com/exercise-3-2-trace/ https://claireclarkblog.wordpress.com/exercise-3-3-what-matters-is-to-look/ https://claireclarkblog.wordpress.com/learning-log-3-1-freeze/ https://claireclarkblog.wordpress.com/learning-log-3-2-trace/ https://claireclarkblog.wordpress.com/learning-log-3-3-what-matters-is-to-look/ https://claireclarkblog.wordpress.com/notes-for-assignment-three-the-indecisive-moment/
Below is a shot created by another pioneer Harold Edgerton;
Harold Edgerton
‘Don’t make me out to be an artist. I am an engineer. I am after the facts, only facts.
Harold Edgerton was known as ‘Papa Flash’ Or ‘Doc’ he was an engineer as his quote indicates.
Edgerton was known for the stroboscope which was an instrument that studied the intermittent moving of the regulating of speeds using light so that movement slow or fast motion appeared to be stationary. Edgertons widely known series of the ‘milk coronet’ captured the descending of milk droplet’s, the energetic irregular drops of movement resulting in splashes. From researching I understand he was able to capture ’milk coronet’ via connecting his camera to a xenon gas flash tube positioned directly in front of the milk. The famous 1957 image can be seen for any viewers that wish to view in video with discussion of the subject matter. And below the publication too;
YouTube: Milk Drop: Behind Harold ‘Doc’ Edgerton’s Photo & High-Speed Photography/100 Photos/TIME
Harold Edgerton’s (1903-90) of the beautiful photographs of the ‘milk coronet’ series can also be viewed in the published life magazine;
https//edgerton-digital-collections.org
The analysis of motion photography is one that one has to examine and evaluate these photographers mentioned. And the ways in which they captured motion in the past and others do to this present day. A photographer that is still working today whom is known for his ability to capture motion in images is Philip-Lorca diCoria. Philip-Lorca diCoria is an American born photographer, born in the year 1951. Having researched this photographer previously I am aware of the series ‘heads’ (2000-1). I discovered the way in which he has captured motion, and that he uses attached flashes (Strobe light), perhaps a telephoto lens, synchronised. He then shoots to make the chosen image. He tends to use some sort of tripod, in ‘heads’ his tripod was scaffold. Philip-Lorca generally uses a nondigital camera, and he captures tension in his shots. For the series ‘Straddle Truth and Fiction‘ he carefully constructed dramatic arrangements. I feel Philip-Lorca’s vision is often expressed displaying a sense of cinematic quality. He uses precise lighting and framing when capturing motion.Philip-Lorca works with a very deliberate approach of what he wants and the images for ‘Straddle Truth and Fiction do combine collaborate actual authentic people and places with respect to natch.
For more about Philip-Lorca DiCoria please see; https://claireclarkblog.wordpress.com/notes-for-3-1-frozen-3-2-trace-and-3-3-what-matter-is-to-look/
http://www.tate.org.uk/context-comment/video/exposed-Philip-loradicoria – The frozen moment in time in a moving subject.
Jeff Wall, Photographer of the milk aesthetic qualities is a conceptual artist and modern photographer. Whom captures motion. I love Jeff’s work which is mainly documenting photographic style… very reportage, accidentally capturing… as most photographers vouch for, some luck…
I researched Louis Daguerre, Eadweard Muybridge, Harold Edgertons, Philip-Lorca diconcia’s – ‘heads’ as well as Jeff Wall. My objective was in the findings I discovered that moments captured are methods adopted by the individual. We have to experiment with the visual results and narrative. Changing and making errors in the process.
The answer to the question about does the camera capture time in these images or does it fragment it, as Szarkowski believed; both as captures and then moves isolating thin slices to reveal something new?. I would personally feel both as it captures and then moves on… the fragment of time are fragmented moments, that are momentary short, and there is continually changing of the process. Flux equals movement.
I also looked at exposure times, and how over time development of the instruments and development of faster exposure times have become, increasingly, advanced, allowing for more precise shots. From the earliest image being taken by French inventor Joseph Nicéphore Niépce it took several hours over an eight hour period whereas now the fastest camera can shoot 10 trillion frames per second with what’s known as the T-Cup camera.
The three men were pioneers in what has come to be recognised as a determining attribution of the medium. Freezing movement in a fraction of a sec Muybridge extended scientific principles for his work ‘accident in motion‘ theory and changed history.
Claire Clark 