It Started With Muybridge
The film explores the use of scientific photography in research and development for advanced weaponry at the Naval Ordnance Laboratory. It traces the history of photographic motion analysis from its inception with Edward Muybridge’s work on animal motion to the modern applications in capturing fast-paced events. Various techniques such as sequence photography, time-lapse photography, high-speed cameras, spark gaps, schlieren photography, and streak cameras are highlighted. The film showcases how these techniques are utilized to capture data from ballistic projectiles, explosive detonations, and nuclear reactor tests. The importance of photography in aiding observation, eliminating distance barriers, and controlling time is emphasized, ultimately contributing to scientific progress and problem-solving.
