#2 Etienne-Jules Marey

Even before Dr. Harold Eugene Edgerton (American, 1903–1990) was given the 1987 ICP Infinity Award for Lifetime Achievement, there was Etiene-Jules Marey, (contemporary to Edward Muybridge). While Edgerton revolutionized photography in the 1930’s with his incorporation of strobe lights into the medium (an effect which essentially allowed split-second motion to be captured), Marey, a physiologist in the late 19th century, was interested in the science of human movement. By 1882, Marey had developed a single camera method that he called chronophotography, which allowed him to make images of human and animal movement. His camera was the forerunner of the motion picture camera. Marey’s chronophotographs were some of the first images to illustrate the exact process of body movement.”

When I saw this image by Marey, I immediately thought of the painting, Nude Descending Staircase by Marcel Duchamp

Its not that far of a stretch really, and in this moment something clicked! I never really got this painting style before.  Never appreciated it or even really liked it. But after I understood the photography studies that were being done about motion at the time. . . I get it! It makes sense to me now. I understand the extra element that they are trying to express. . . and for me it's powerful! It brought them alive! They were no longer awkward static freaky things, but beautiful, moving expressions!

Sad young man in a train, Duchamp

Some, like the one above even effect me on an emotional level. Its something about the movement, that just reaches me. Its beautiful!

another Duchamp, How cute is this!

All the cubism painting that I thought were crazy weird, I get them too.  They are just making 2D what is really 3D. Because they could no longer compete with the realism of photography they were finding another way.  A way that was unique to painting. And because I get that now, I like it more.  Photography made me appreciate some of the more modern movements in painting.

Here are a few more photographs of Marey's. They are just so beautiful!

This one looks like a bird.

Going from there I found a few more images from other photographers that I just loved!

Trampolinist's Spin by Ray Massey

Ice Skater (unknown)

They are just so beautiful and elegant.  I love the black and white.  I love the beautiful contrast! There is something here that I want to explore even more!