Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-08-06
PHOTOGRAPH1NG MOTION.
Successful Experiments at the Univer-
sity of Pennsylvania.

Successful Experiments at the Uniyer-
sity of Pennsylvania.
Interesting experiments in instantane-
GUS photography, says the Philadelphia
Press, are being made by Edward Muy-
bridge at the University of Pennsylvania.
A space on the college grounds has been
set apart with a high board fence sur
rounding three sides of the Enclosure: the
fence has been painted a bright white.
On the fourth side there is a shed covered
with black material, while the ground is
covered with an inch of coal dust, This
is the background and directly opposite
is little structure, with an open front
containing twelve cameras. On Saturday
the lenses were covered with double rub
Der shutters, and each was held in place
by latch. Each of these Iatches was
connected with wire and so arranged
that the closing of an electric circuit
would liberate the shutters and for the
thOusandth part of a second permit light
to shine into the camera.
A splendidly developed young student.
member of the University crew.
stripped to the skin, was photographed in
various attitudes. He took his position
in front of the row of cameras. At sig
nal he seized a bucket of water, raised it
in the air and tossed away the contents.
The instant he moved Mr.. Muybridge
touched an electric button. A series of
sharp clicks sounded as in rapid success
sion the shutters of each, camera were
freed. As the last click sounded the
water was falling to the ground, and
twelve photographs had been taken of
the young man, representing twelve
phases of the movements through which
his body went while lifting the pail and
emptying it of water. Even the water
itself was photographed as just leaving
the pail, again as falling, and again as
reaching the ground.
Inc young athlete was also photo
graphed pulling rowing machine climb
ing ladder, striking a ball and other
movements designed to bring his muscles
into full play. The actions and motions
OF TWO crlpples were successfully trans
ferred to plate. Studies were made of a
nude female model. Instead of a row of
cameras exposed in Succession, six cam
eras were concentrated upon the models
ngure-one in front, one behind and four
others so as to give side views at different
angles-and all were exposed simultane-
ously for fraction of the second during
which she was making the specified
movement.
Mr.. Muy bridges experiments are under
the supervision of a committee of the
University Faculty, composed of Provost
Pepper, Prof. Harrison Allen. DR.. Leidy.
Prof. George f. Barker, Prof. Marks,
Prof. Huidekoper, of the Veterinary De.
partment; Prof. Aikens, of the Academy
Of Fine Arts, and DR.. Dercum.
Photographs will be taken to show the
consecutive phases of motion of selected
men and women while performing mus
cular exercises and different mechanical
operations, as carpentry and blacksmith
ing; the movements of persons suffering
from palsy and diseases of the Joints,
showing exactly how the gait is affected,
and analyzIng accurately the abnormal
action of the muscles; the movements of
horses, dogs and other animals at differ
ent rates of speed; the aerial locomotion
Of birds on the wing, and the methods of
birds and fish,