Etienne-Jules Marey

While Muybridge and Eakins were pushing the bounds of photography in 1880s Philadelphia, a group of Frenchmen in and around Paris were doing the same.  We've already looked at the medical and anatomical photos of Paul Richer and Albert Londe, as well as the athletic work of Professor Desbonnet.  Today we look at the motion studies of Etienne-Jules Marey and the apparatus he invented and called the Chronophotographic Gun.  (One model even had a stock like a rifle.)  Marey was also a physiologist, so a good portion of his work shows off male anatomy.  Shown above in his lab, he collaborated at one point with Thomas Edison.  Today we will look at ten of his images.

 

Mystery

Our first Marey image is something I found described online as a frame from a Marey sequence made into a short movie.  Multiple searches have failed to find either the movie or the still sequence.  And no, I don't have a clue as to what he is doing unless he's inflating one of those medical test  units, something that wouldn't make a good piece on animal motion or musculature.

 

Out of the blocks

 This one shows a runner bursting out of the starting blocks.

Looking at Us I

I have a fifteen panel set of this model walking across a set, and in every image he makes sure we can see his face.  One does not see this in any off Marey's other groups of photos.  Another interesting note on this one is the line drawn from his hip to his ankle for anatomical reference.

 

Bicycle

Cycling was a big craze when Marey did much of is work, as witnessed by the sheer number of cyclists in the athletic nudes of his contemporary Paul Richer.  So it's no surprise that Mr. Marey put the motif into his work.  I have to say that the model has a beautiful bum.  Enlarge this if you can.

 

GIF

I don't know who made this GIF file of one of Marey's subjects, but I like it.

 

Looking at Us II

Here's a different view of the fellow shown earlier who looks right at us.

 

Loincloth

The loincloth is a bit of a letdown, but the athleticism comes through quite well.

 

Resolute

This well built walker gives an impression of being resolute about the project.

 

Fun

More than one expert observer has said that Marey and his crew did this one just for fun.

It does appear to be a one off that they just went outside and took on a lark.

 

Swinger

Our final Marey photo is a man swinging a stick,

and the muscle definition is nothing less than amazing.

 

Sunbath Day

Today we peep at some sunbathers.  I hope these World War II Germans weren't picking lice.

 

Mattress

That looks like an odd type of air mattress.

I'm sure it had many uses.

 

AMG Production

This one is no doubt part of some elaborate Bob Mizer AMG production.

The variation in tan levels and lines is interesting.

 

Beefy

Despite the complete lack of nudity, I like this shot of a beefy guy.

 

Viewer submission

Viewer Thad R. from Wichita sent me this photo of a pale dude sprawled in the sun.

 

Treatment

This looks like one of those treatments for miners or others who work in the dark.

 

Jolly Aussie

This jolly guy is an Australian naturist.

 

Army blanket

I hope this guy on an army blanket in the middle of nowhere hasn't fallen asleep in the sun.

 

Applying themselves

These two are applying lotion, and I hope the guy at right is using a high SPF.

He looks like could burn rather easily.

 

Foreign Legion?

Our last group of sunbathers make me think of the French Foreign Legion.

 

Men with Beards Day

Today's theme is men with beards, and we start with a guy outdoors who looks Latino.

 

Familiar

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Repeat

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John Skaggs

This is the only model today for whom I have an ID, 

and he's John Skaggs as photographed by Bruce of LA.

 

AMG

Surely one of you AMG experts can name the model here.

 

Color

Our only color photo of the day has a guy on an ottoman

with a painting of naked female off to the side.

 

Close cropped

This guy was either new to beards of liked the close-cropped look.

 

Nature boy

I wish I had a clearer image of this nature boy.

 

Had to be 1970

This had to be 1970.

 

Sophisticated

Our last bearded guy seems to be going for the sophisticated look.