Eadweard Muybridge：The Complete Locomotion Photographs

Thistitlediscussesaboutthegrandfatherofthemovingimage.EnglishphotographerEadweardMuybridge(1830-1904)wasapioneerinvisualstudiesofhumanandanimallocomotion.In1872,hefamouslyhelpedsettleabetforformerCaliforniagovernorLelandStanfordbyprovidingphotographicproofthatwhengalloping,ahorsemomentarilyliftsallofitslegsoffoftheground.Muybridgeaccomplishedthisfeatbyinventingacomplexsystemofshutterreleasesthatallowedhimtocapturefreezeframesofthehorse'sgallop-provingconclusively,forthefirsttime,thatthehorsedoesindeedliftallofitshoovesintheairforafractionofasecond.Forthenextthreedecades,Muybridgecontinuedhisquesttofullycatalogmanyanaspectofhumanandanimalmovement,shootinghundredsofnudeordrapedsubjectsengagedinvariousactivitiessuchasrunning,walking,boxing,fencing,anddescendingastaircase(thelatterstudyinspiredMarcelDuchamp'sfamous1912painting).ThisresplendentbooktracesthelifeandworkofMuybridge,fromhisearlythinkingaboutanatomyandmovementtohislatestphotographicexperiments,andiscopiouslyillustratedwithhiscompletelocomotionplatesaswellasbiographicalpicturesandtexts.Theworkofthisiconof19thcenturyphotography,stillveryrelevanttoday,ismostdeservingofthislongoverdueXLtomethatwilldelightartandphotographyfansaswellashorselovers.