Dubai
From the blur of people walking around malls in Dubai, to the clouds changing shape as planes dart through them in arcs across continents… we live life in constant motion.
Even the Earth never stops spinning on its axis as it travels around the sun.
So, can we really blame photographers for trying to capture movement in photography?
The first recorded photograph that actually showed motion, created much controversy.
On July 1, 1877, British photographer Eadweard Muybridge took a picture of a Stanford racehorse called Occident. The image showed the horse with all four feet off the ground, mid-gallop. The press and the public failed to accept this as proof, calling into question the photographer’s credibility.
So Muybridge persisted. He created a rapid-fire sliding shutter mechanism in the side of a purpose-built shack – an old-fashioned version of stop motion photography – and on June 15, 1878, before the assembled press, set off 12 cameras in rapid succession in less than half a second.
When he showed journalists the freshly developed photographic plates, there was no hiding the truth – the horse was indeed airborne while galloping.
The pictures settled an old argument, and simultaneously started a new medium and industry.
We asked our reader photographers to carry on Muybridge’s legacy, and send in their best pictures of ‘motion’ as part of August’s Facebook Picture Competition.
The photography competition was opened up to our Facebook readers, and they selected the top five winners, by liking the picture that they found best captured the theme. Here, we present the winners.
Editor’s note: If you would like to participate, log on to Gulf News’ Facebook page and send in your submission for September’s Facebook Reader Picture Competition, on the theme of ‘Hands at work’.
FIRST PLACE
In his photograph, Kalika Karunasena traced the movement of fire during a desert safari. He said: ‘I captured this amazingly talented fire dancer’s performance at the perfect moment.’ Her picture received 139 likes on Facebook.
SECOND PLACE
Thulasi Krishnan’s photograph is from his vacation in Kerala, India. He said: ‘Kalappoottu is a type of cattle race conducted in Kerala. This is a competition that is usually held during the harvest festival, or Onam.’ His picture garnered 67 votes on Facebook.
THIRD PLACE
Abdul Jabbar took this photograph of the precise moment a fisherman cast his net, in Kerala, India. His picture received 61 likes on Facebook.
FOURTH PLACE
Marc Dela Cruz took this picture in the Rub Al Khali desert or the Empty Quarter, off Abu Dhabi. He said: ‘My friend was spinning steel wool, when I took the picture.’ His picture received 34 votes on Facebook.
FIFTH PLACE
His photograph garnered 11 likes on Facebook.
