Eadweard Muybridge

Born:

9 April 1830, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey, England

Died:

8 May 1904, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey, England

Nationality:

British

Profession(s):

Photographer, Motion Picture Pioneer

Early Life and Education

• Originally named Edward James Muggeridge.
• Early career involved bookselling.
• Emigrated to the United States in the 1850s.

Career and Major Achievements

• Initially worked as a publisher's agent and bookseller in San Francisco.
• Began his photography career in the 1860s, initially focusing on landscape photography.
• Known for his pioneering work in photographic studies of motion, and early work in motion-picture projection.
• Significant contribution involved capturing images of Yosemite Valley and Alaska.
• Commissioned by Leland Stanford to photographically study the gaits of horses.
• Developed a technique for photographing objects moving at high speeds, utilizing multiple cameras and trip wires.

Notable Works

• Sallie Gardner at a Gallop (1878): Demonstrated that a galloping horse lifts all four hooves off the ground simultaneously.
• Animal Locomotion (1887): A comprehensive collection of his motion studies, featuring a variety of animals and humans.
• Zoopraxiscope: An early motion picture device, used to project images from rotating glass discs.

Animal Locomotion Study (Example)

Legacy and Impact

Eadweard Muybridge's groundbreaking photographic studies of motion had a profound impact on the development of motion pictures and visual arts. His work provided crucial insights into animal and human movement, influencing artists, scientists, and filmmakers for generations to come. The early "biography picture" of a horse in motion was the foundation for modern cinema.

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