The Stroboscope Effect
I read this interesting article yesterday about the impact of technology on swimming as world records are being smashed left and right. For me the biggest gain in technology has been the camera angles and video technology. It’s so bizarre to watch a rowing race from a birds-eye perspective (although I can’t imagine competing and sensing that overhead). And then I always love seeing the swimmers catapult off the wall from under water views. When it comes to still photography these stroboscopic images [update: stromotion] take the cake! Strangely enough when I was in high school and big into photography, I managed to use this process in my 10th grade science fair project. I have no idea how they do it in this case, but we set it up in our dark garage and multiple flashes went off capturing each shift in movement.
So as I was working on this post, I looked up more on the stroboscope, remembering Harold E. Edgerton’s book, Moments of Vison, that inspired my science fair project. While reading his bio on wikipedia, the second sentence under his education says: He credited Charles Stark Draper with inspiring him to point stroboscopes at everyday objects: the first was a stream of water coming out of a faucet. And while that may not mean much to the rest of you. Charles Stark Draper also happens to be my grandfather!!! Wowza! So freakin’ cool!
Click here to see more Olympic images like these (look for the word “stromotion” under diving and other sports as well).
{stroboscope images of US men’s gymnastics team via nbcolympics}
Rev Alex
August 12, 2008 at 3:54 pm //
That is BANANAS about your grandfather!
I watched the USA mens team take the bronze last night, it was so exciting.
Abbey Goes Design Scouting
August 12, 2008 at 6:13 pm //
THAT IS SO COOL ABOUT YOUR GRANDFATHER!
I love stuff like that. And I love all the ways technology is making us faster, better, giving us new ways to look at things. xo
Pigtown-Design
August 13, 2008 at 1:24 pm //
What fun about your grandfather. Sounds like a very interesting man. Did you ever meet him?
Prêt à Voyager
August 13, 2008 at 1:33 pm //
Yes, I did Meg. I was seven when he passed away (I think) and was never in top shape when I knew him. But he has a cool legacy (and my parents are working on getting a postage stamp with his face :)
Anne
Lauren Kilberg
August 13, 2008 at 5:13 pm //
How incredibly cool. You should be bursting with pride! Also, these photos are incredible.
design for mankind.
August 13, 2008 at 5:38 pm //
SHUT! UP!
So THAT’S where you get your total awesomeness from. ;)
Anonymous
August 14, 2008 at 11:53 am //
The actual name is Stromotion
Developped by a company calle Dartfish (www.dartfish.com)
http://www.nbcolympics.com/photos/stromotion/index.html
Prêt à Voyager
August 14, 2008 at 12:10 pm //
Anon- Great info! thanks for the update!!!
Anne
111
March 9, 2009 at 6:38 am //
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