The Science Of Animal Locomotion (zoopraxography): An Electro-photographic Investigation Of Consecutive Phases Of Animal Movements

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In 1872, the author began investigating animal movements through photography in Sacramento, California, starting with a famous horse, Occident, owned by Senator Stanford. Initial experiments captured various phases of the horse's trotting at full speed, but it wasn't until 1877 that results were published. During this time, he developed an automatic electro-photographic apparatus for making consecutive exposures at set intervals. The findings from this apparatus, showcasing the actions of horses while walking, trotting, and galloping, were published in 1878 under the title "The Horse in Motion." Copies of these photographs were deposited in the Library of Congress and gained international attention, being discussed in journals across Berlin, London, Paris, and Vienna. In 1882, during a lecture on "The Science of Animal Locomotion in its relation to Design in Art" at the Royal Institution, he showcased results from his experiments conducted in the preceding years at Palo Alto, California. Using a zoopraxiscope and an oxy-hydrogen lantern, he projected a synthesis of the actions he had analyzed onto the wall, further advancing the understanding of animal locomotion.