1878
Capturing footage or filming began with controversy as many disagree on the first ever depiction of film. Although there are many examples of what could be the first ever film, Edward Muybridge’s “Sallie Gardner at a Gallop” is considered “the world’s first motion picture film” (Harvey 2017). The film Is essentially several photographs of a galloping horse. Harvey (2017) suggests in 1878 horse breeder and farmer Leland Stanford was curious to see if “at any time all four of the horse’s feet were off the ground” (Harvey 2017). Edward Muybridge designed a way to capture the horse at different intervals around the track (Harvey 2017). Harvey (2017) further suggests that with all the photographs put together one by one, Gardner could see that horse indeed had all four feet above the ground but more importantly they discovered a moving image.
YouTube, 1878 – Sallie Gardner at a Gallop, online video 3 April 2011, viewed 5 March, <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqfCmQtrTcE>
“Sallie Gardner at a Gallop” is an example of the first ever form of video or film editing as the photos are arranged in the correct order.
1880s
Editing further developed with the invention of celluloid film. Harding (2012) suggests “In order to create the illusion of movement, individual photographs could be mounted on a strip and viewed in devices such as the zoetrope.” (Harding 2012) This method of mounting photographs was deemed impractical to effectively edit the film. It was not until “George Eastman’s roll film system of photography in 1885 was to break the technological block that was holding back the emergence of a practical system for recording and displaying moving pictures.” (Harding 2012) The process of editing captured footage on celluloid film literally consisted of cutting or trimming the film and sticking it back on the film in the desired sections. This cutting and trimming is still used as basis for editing video today.
The process of editing consisted mainly of using celluloid film until the invention of video cameras. Allowing editors to easily capture footage and edit with editing software on a computer.
A young editor by the name of Sam Kolder is an inspiration to not only myself but to many young video editors. Sam creates breathtaking video content, with majority of the content being filmed and edited by himself. I have learned many techniques and skills through several years of watching Sam’s Youtube and Instagram videos. Even learning about Sam himself, which is otherwise unknown. Sam began by uploading engaging videos to Youtube earning him employment with creative agency Beautiful Destinations.
<https://www.youtube.com/user/koldstudios>
Editing footage and capturing film is forever improving, becoming much more efficient. Video quality also rapidly improving with 1080 HD videos becoming standard, but soon to be overshadowed by 4K video.
Harvey, I 2017, Sallie Gardner at a Gallop: An 1878 experiment in kinetics brings the world’s first motion picture film, The Vintage news, weblog post, 3 April 2017, viewed 5 March, <https://www.thevintagenews.com/2017/04/03/sallie-gardner-at-a-gallop-an-1878-experiment-in-kinetics-brings-the-worlds-first-motion-picture-film/>
Harding, C 2012, CELLULOID AND PHOTOGRAPHY, PART 3: THE BEGINNINGS OF CINEMA
, Science and Media Museum, web post, 17 November 2012, viewed 5 March, <https://blog.scienceandmediamuseum.org.uk/celluloid-and-photography-part-3-the-beginnings-of-cinema/>
Sam Pirrottina 