Post 2 - Beginning of Motion Capture

Since my Last post, I have looked into the history of motion - The Beginning of Motion Capture

British Photographer, Eadweard Muybridge (1830-1904) was the first person to capture motion. in 1872, he captured a horse being ridden using many cameras, taking pictures as it galloped past. Then, by invented the zoopraxiscope, it was possible for many images to be shown in quick succession, thus displaying the illusion of motion. (FIG 02)

FIG 02

This allowed for the accurate recording and study of motion as an alternative to real time observations. This succession of images could be sped up or slowed down, with a single image effectively freezing time. Inspired by this, one of the many early applications came from Étienne-Jules Marey (1830-1904), who invented various instruments for capturing motion, namely the photographic gun (the modern equivalent being a burst frame mode of a digital camera) His research and findings were predominately in the field of nature, animals and physiology.

I believe that this is extremely vital in the study and understanding of motion as it allows for motion to be slowed down and disseminated. When applying early studies and recordings of motion to modern day computer based animation, it is instantly obvious why these early recordings are so important. Motion is all around us and at an early age, we become accustom to the rules of nature, namely physics. For an animation to include any form of motion, it is important that it makes some attempt to reproduce such physics in order for it to become believable. For some forms of animation, for example abstract or animations addressing an unknown subject matter; it may be possible to get away with following the rules of physics so closely. However, anything involving human, mammal, or real world replications have to be precise, otherwise they will ‘not look right’ It other words, they have failed to closely follow the laws of physics, namely real world movement, or human joint restrictions.  

We as a species know how far our joints can bend, at what point when walking to switch from one leg to the other, so we naturally become a critic of animation as it is a representation of the real world, such as the physics of motion and time.

Evaluation

There is no doubt that these initial references of motion were a turning point for technological development and thinking, and with this in mind, they are of great importance in the development of current animation technologies. However, as modern research into motion is inspired by such early observations, they utilise modern day technology. So in this respect the physical, early images and equipment is of little use any more. I think that it is wise to reflect on this source of historical information by suggesting that it is the actual concept and ideals behind capturing motion in a recorded format which is of the greatest importance, since an idea and concept has the potential to inspire and remain fresh.

Muybridge - http://americanhistory.si.edu/muybridge/htm/htm_sec1/sec1.htm

Marey - http://easyweb.easynet.co.uk/~s-herbert/marey.htm

FIG 02 - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Horse_in_Motion.jpg