The Horse in Motion, Eadweard Muybridge
purpose: prove whether a galloping horse lifts all four hooves off the ground at one point in its sequence of motion.
date: 1878
medium: photography
location: Sacramento, California
The Steerage, Alfred Stieglitz
date: 1878
medium: photography
location: Sacramento, California
The Steerage, Alfred Stieglitz
size: 33.5cm x 26.4cm
medium: photograph
date: 1907
hailed as one of the greatest photographs of all time
Horse in motion and The Steerage are both very influential and time period marking photographs of their time The horse in motion not only showed a series of events taking place much like film can, but actually proved a theory that many people were unsure of and could not determine wit the naked eye. The question was, when a horse gallops, does all four of its feet lift off the ground? The Horse in motion proved this to be true. This brought about change to the art and science of photography by not only showcasing the "fun" everyday use of photography for documenting personal and widely-known parts of life, but it also showcased the actual need for something that can see what most people can't. Similar to the Steerage; photography brings about change in being able to capture the lives of others from a perspective that most people wouldn't be able to see.
The Horse in Motion is said to be one of the best photographs of all time because it marks a time period in history where photography became more than just snapping a picture of a scene or scenario and more of a tool for discovery. When the question of whether or not a horse lifts all four of its limbs off the ground when it gallops was proposed, people tried to see if they could find out by themselves by paying extra close attention, but the horse ran too fast and people quickly realized that they couldn't tell if the horse picked up all of its legs or not with the naked eye. Muybridge developed a way to take photos with an exposure lasting a fraction of a second and arranged 12 cameras along a track. As the horse sped by, it tripped wires connected to the cameras, which took 12 photos in rapid succession and then Muybridge developed the 12 photos on scene. Muybridge’s use of the stop-motion technique was an early form of animation that helped pave the way for the motion-picture industry that was soon to come.
The Steerage on the other hand was not in any way a scientific experiment really, but perhaps more of a visuals representation of the upper and lower classes of America. The scene depicts a variety of men and women traveling in the lower-class section of a steamer going from New York to Bremen, Germany. The picture was taken on a cruise to Europe from America, and because of that some critics have interpreted the photograph to be a recording of people who were turned away by U.S. Immigration officials and were forced to go back home. This photograph creates more of a political statement than The Horse in motion but it does however show the impact that photography has on society. Although the real 'meaning' behind The Steerage is sort of unknown, the speculations and theories behind it are just as important and impactful as the photograph itself.
In a way, The Steerage resembles the meaning behind the 1890 photograph, How The Other Half Lives. This picture shows the tough and laborious lives of immigrants in the 1890s. Many people in upper- and middle-class societies were unaware of the dangerous conditions in the slums among poor immigrants. This same narrative can be found in The Steerage. In the top half of the photograph, you can see people dressed nicely with suits and hats looking comfortable and relaxed while the second half of the photograph shows people who are wearing garments that resemble impoverished societies as well as discomforting looks among their faces and physical unrest as they hold what they can of their belongings.
All in all, photography has come a long way since its bitch in the 1800s but its enormous impact still remains. Famous photographs that are to be some of the first have shaped the way we as people think due to the extraordinary ability to see things that we never may be able to with our own eyes. Our main source of information, news, and knowledge of the world that we wont be able to see with our own eyes is all delivered to us by means of photography.
medium: photograph
date: 1907
hailed as one of the greatest photographs of all time
Horse in motion and The Steerage are both very influential and time period marking photographs of their time The horse in motion not only showed a series of events taking place much like film can, but actually proved a theory that many people were unsure of and could not determine wit the naked eye. The question was, when a horse gallops, does all four of its feet lift off the ground? The Horse in motion proved this to be true. This brought about change to the art and science of photography by not only showcasing the "fun" everyday use of photography for documenting personal and widely-known parts of life, but it also showcased the actual need for something that can see what most people can't. Similar to the Steerage; photography brings about change in being able to capture the lives of others from a perspective that most people wouldn't be able to see.
The Horse in Motion is said to be one of the best photographs of all time because it marks a time period in history where photography became more than just snapping a picture of a scene or scenario and more of a tool for discovery. When the question of whether or not a horse lifts all four of its limbs off the ground when it gallops was proposed, people tried to see if they could find out by themselves by paying extra close attention, but the horse ran too fast and people quickly realized that they couldn't tell if the horse picked up all of its legs or not with the naked eye. Muybridge developed a way to take photos with an exposure lasting a fraction of a second and arranged 12 cameras along a track. As the horse sped by, it tripped wires connected to the cameras, which took 12 photos in rapid succession and then Muybridge developed the 12 photos on scene. Muybridge’s use of the stop-motion technique was an early form of animation that helped pave the way for the motion-picture industry that was soon to come.
The Steerage on the other hand was not in any way a scientific experiment really, but perhaps more of a visuals representation of the upper and lower classes of America. The scene depicts a variety of men and women traveling in the lower-class section of a steamer going from New York to Bremen, Germany. The picture was taken on a cruise to Europe from America, and because of that some critics have interpreted the photograph to be a recording of people who were turned away by U.S. Immigration officials and were forced to go back home. This photograph creates more of a political statement than The Horse in motion but it does however show the impact that photography has on society. Although the real 'meaning' behind The Steerage is sort of unknown, the speculations and theories behind it are just as important and impactful as the photograph itself.
In a way, The Steerage resembles the meaning behind the 1890 photograph, How The Other Half Lives. This picture shows the tough and laborious lives of immigrants in the 1890s. Many people in upper- and middle-class societies were unaware of the dangerous conditions in the slums among poor immigrants. This same narrative can be found in The Steerage. In the top half of the photograph, you can see people dressed nicely with suits and hats looking comfortable and relaxed while the second half of the photograph shows people who are wearing garments that resemble impoverished societies as well as discomforting looks among their faces and physical unrest as they hold what they can of their belongings.
All in all, photography has come a long way since its bitch in the 1800s but its enormous impact still remains. Famous photographs that are to be some of the first have shaped the way we as people think due to the extraordinary ability to see things that we never may be able to with our own eyes. Our main source of information, news, and knowledge of the world that we wont be able to see with our own eyes is all delivered to us by means of photography.