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First Moving Images

The first moving images ever captured, Sallie Gardner at a Gallop, taken in 1878 by Eadweard Muybridge
The first moving images ever captured, Sallie Gardner at a Gallop, taken in 1878 by Eadweard Muybridge

Historical Context

The late 19th century saw nascent motion picture technology develop at a rapid pace as cameras and other technology slowly became mainstream. One of the earliest attempts at a moving image was the result of a test by the film pioneer Eadweard Muybridge.

The purpose of the 24 rapidly taken photographs of a galloping horse was to see whether a horse lifts all four of its feet off the ground during a gallop, which human eyes cannot see at a certain speed. The images showed that a horse sometimes has all 4 feet off the ground simultaneously.

In 1880 Muybridge showed the images at the California School of Fine Arts - the first ever motion picture exhibition.

Photo Info

Photographer: Eadweard Muybridge
Date taken: June 15, 1878
Location taken: Palo Alto, California, USA
Source: Wikimedia Commons

Related Events

  • 1878-06-15 World's first moving pictures caught on camera (used 12 cameras, each taking 1 picture) done to see if all 4 of a horse's hooves leave the ground


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