Eadweard Muybridge was a photographer in the late 1800s. His lasting contribution to the photographic world was in motion studies. Muybridge was able to use multiple cameras fired in sequence to create a set of still photographs. The photographs stopped motion, and when the sequence of images was put together the motion was revealed. Things that the eye couldn’t isolate in motion could be seen clearly when frozen. It also was the forerunner of motion pictures.

Muybridge was also a somewhat fiery character who, among other things, was charged with the murder of his wife’s lover. (He was acquitted on the grounds of justifiable homicide.)

Motion 58 is distributing a film centered on Muybridge. Billed as a “psychological drama,” the trailers show a story of a man obsessed with his work and also with his intimate relationships. Some previous attempts to explore a photographer’s world/mind have really been more drama with a known photographer as character. I would like to see what Motion 58 has done with Muybridge. So far it appears to have had limited showings. I’ll have to keep my fingers crossed it comes closer, or find a way to do some traveling.

You can find out more about the film and watch a trailer at the Motion 58 website. There are also a couple of alternate trailers (shorter and longer) on Vimeo.

Another hiatus. As so many academic-types know, there are lots of demands on one’s time. If you have tried to follow this site regularly, you know those demands overtake sharing my perspectives on the photography world.

So… as I sit on the brink of a new academic year we’ll take another stab at adding to the conversation about photography/photojournalism on a more regular basis. Here’s hoping persistence pays off.