Looking at Time Through a Slit | Andrew Davidhazy | TEDxAllendaleColumbiaSchool

good morning thank you very much for the

good morning thank you very much for the invitation I’m pleased to be here and

invitation I’m pleased to be here and

invitation I’m pleased to be here and we’ll be talking about time photography

we’ll be talking about time photography

we’ll be talking about time photography and time have been interrelated for ever

and time have been interrelated for ever

and time have been interrelated for ever since the beginning but hopefully in the

since the beginning but hopefully in the

since the beginning but hopefully in the next few minutes you’re going to see an

next few minutes you’re going to see an

next few minutes you’re going to see an application that normally we don’t think

application that normally we don’t think

application that normally we don’t think about associated with photography and

about associated with photography and

about associated with photography and Cameras Cameras Cameras make snapshots

Cameras Cameras Cameras make snapshots

Cameras Cameras Cameras make snapshots that’s what we’re familiar with make

that’s what we’re familiar with make

that’s what we’re familiar with make with your phone with your other camera

with your phone with your other camera

with your phone with your other camera make instantaneous views of reality or

make instantaneous views of reality or

make instantaneous views of reality or if you take a whole bunch of these and

if you take a whole bunch of these and

if you take a whole bunch of these and put them together in that case you make

put them together in that case you make

put them together in that case you make a video or a motion picture but what’s

a video or a motion picture but what’s

a video or a motion picture but what’s between a motion picture and it’s still

between a motion picture and it’s still

between a motion picture and it’s still photograph that’s what we’re going to

photograph that’s what we’re going to

photograph that’s what we’re going to talk about cameras that of this kind

talk about cameras that of this kind

talk about cameras that of this kind that are between instantaneous and

that are between instantaneous and

that are between instantaneous and movies are pictures that include time

movies are pictures that include time

movies are pictures that include time but are neither snapshots nor videos how

but are neither snapshots nor videos how

but are neither snapshots nor videos how do they do this they do this by throwing

do they do this they do this by throwing

do they do this they do this by throwing away one of the dimensions of a regular

away one of the dimensions of a regular

away one of the dimensions of a regular two-dimensional view they concentrate

two-dimensional view they concentrate

two-dimensional view they concentrate their view on a narrow vertical line and

their view on a narrow vertical line and

their view on a narrow vertical line and they record what happens over that

they record what happens over that

they record what happens over that opening over time in the film era

opening over time in the film era

opening over time in the film era following in Mark and Dan’s footsteps

following in Mark and Dan’s footsteps

following in Mark and Dan’s footsteps I’m also a maker and I made myself a

I’m also a maker and I made myself a

I’m also a maker and I made myself a camera that would operate in that

camera that would operate in that

camera that would operate in that fashion by installing a slit in the

fashion by installing a slit in the

fashion by installing a slit in the camera and then moving the film behind

camera and then moving the film behind

camera and then moving the film behind that slit I was able to record what

that slit I was able to record what

that slit I was able to record what happens in time over it now when the

happens in time over it now when the

happens in time over it now when the digital era came around cameras that

digital era came around cameras that

digital era came around cameras that would mimic what the film cameras did

would mimic what the film cameras did

would mimic what the film cameras did we’re around but they’re very expensive

we’re around but they’re very expensive

we’re around but they’re very expensive so what to do what happened to when I

so what to do what happened to when I

so what to do what happened to when I cross a hand scanner you may remember

cross a hand scanner you may remember

cross a hand scanner you may remember these as devices that you would draw

these as devices that you would draw

these as devices that you would draw over some document and you would make a

over some document and you would make a

over some document and you would make a copy of it

copy of it

copy of it well they operate on the basis that they

well they operate on the basis that they

well they operate on the basis that they have a linear array inside of them it’s

have a linear array inside of them it’s

have a linear array inside of them it’s a one line array of pixels and this then

a one line array of pixels and this then

a one line array of pixels and this then gets connected to a computer here I

gets connected to a computer here I

gets connected to a computer here I installed it into the back of a camera

installed it into the back of a camera

installed it into the back of a camera and you

and you

and you and see it and there is the electronics

and see it and there is the electronics

and see it and there is the electronics that connected to a computer since the

that connected to a computer since the

that connected to a computer since the the device would not no longer be

the device would not no longer be

the device would not no longer be rolling over a document or anything I

rolling over a document or anything I

rolling over a document or anything I had two couple I have to make you think

had two couple I have to make you think

had two couple I have to make you think that it was rolling and I coupled a DC

that it was rolling and I coupled a DC

that it was rolling and I coupled a DC motor to the drive mechanism of the

motor to the drive mechanism of the

motor to the drive mechanism of the scanner using a rubber band

scanner using a rubber band

scanner using a rubber band as you can see high-tech engineering

as you can see high-tech engineering

as you can see high-tech engineering here no expense spared but what can you

here no expense spared but what can you

here no expense spared but what can you do with a camera that has a linear array

do with a camera that has a linear array

do with a camera that has a linear array in it well one of an easy application

in it well one of an easy application

in it well one of an easy application will be to check on the behavior of the

will be to check on the behavior of the

will be to check on the behavior of the camera shutter in this case the linear

camera shutter in this case the linear

camera shutter in this case the linear array is aimed at the throat of the

array is aimed at the throat of the

array is aimed at the throat of the camera in front and changing the

camera in front and changing the

camera in front and changing the exposure time should result in changes

exposure time should result in changes

exposure time should result in changes in signal and these are exactly what

in signal and these are exactly what

in signal and these are exactly what happens as the exposure times gets

happens as the exposure times gets

happens as the exposure times gets shortened so that the trace gets shorter

shortened so that the trace gets shorter

shortened so that the trace gets shorter by the degree to which you have changed

by the degree to which you have changed

by the degree to which you have changed each from one exposure time to the next

each from one exposure time to the next

each from one exposure time to the next this may be kind of boring so let’s look

this may be kind of boring so let’s look

this may be kind of boring so let’s look at another application in this case it’s

at another application in this case it’s

at another application in this case it’s a blotter paper or a paper towel strip

a blotter paper or a paper towel strip

a blotter paper or a paper towel strip waking up some ink this ink takes time

waking up some ink this ink takes time

waking up some ink this ink takes time to go from from the container to the to

to go from from the container to the to

to go from from the container to the to the top

the top

the top it’s kind of boring to look at this and

it’s kind of boring to look at this and

it’s kind of boring to look at this and it’s not very productive to try to make

it’s not very productive to try to make

it’s not very productive to try to make a videotape of this either because it

a videotape of this either because it

a videotape of this either because it takes such a long time but if you aim a

takes such a long time but if you aim a

takes such a long time but if you aim a linear array a slit view along the

linear array a slit view along the

linear array a slit view along the length of this piece of paper and then

length of this piece of paper and then

length of this piece of paper and then you display it over time

you display it over time

you display it over time you get a record which is

you get a record which is

you get a record which is instantaneously gives you a graph of the

instantaneously gives you a graph of the

instantaneously gives you a graph of the performance of this piece of paper in

performance of this piece of paper in

performance of this piece of paper in terms of its ability to like capital the

terms of its ability to like capital the

terms of its ability to like capital the reaction bring up the ink from the

reaction bring up the ink from the

reaction bring up the ink from the bottom so all you have to do is put in a

bottom so all you have to do is put in a

bottom so all you have to do is put in a couple of scales and you got the graph

couple of scales and you got the graph

couple of scales and you got the graph of already made now you can do some

of already made now you can do some

of already made now you can do some interesting things by making that linear

interesting things by making that linear

interesting things by making that linear array traverse the focal plane of the

array traverse the focal plane of the

array traverse the focal plane of the camera you’d have a focal plane scanning

camera you’d have a focal plane scanning

camera you’d have a focal plane scanning system and unusual representations of

system and unusual representations of

system and unusual representations of reality can be easily made with such a

reality can be easily made with such a

reality can be easily made with such a camera no Photoshop no Photoshop

camera no Photoshop no Photoshop

camera no Photoshop no Photoshop involved no manipulations this is the

involved no manipulations this is the

involved no manipulations this is the way it comes out the pictures scanned

way it comes out the pictures scanned

way it comes out the pictures scanned from top to bottom

from top to bottom

from top to bottom and halfway through person moves and

and halfway through person moves and

and halfway through person moves and then moves again just to remember how

then moves again just to remember how

then moves again just to remember how this camera works we can think of there

this camera works we can think of there

this camera works we can think of there being unused memory somewhere and then

being unused memory somewhere and then

being unused memory somewhere and then there’s a linear array and then memory

there’s a linear array and then memory

there’s a linear array and then memory of whatever has gone over that array

of whatever has gone over that array

of whatever has gone over that array that’s the computer side and actually

that’s the computer side and actually

that’s the computer side and actually the ball the computer side but one is

the ball the computer side but one is

the ball the computer side but one is unused

unused

unused the other one is used memory a very

the other one is used memory a very

the other one is used memory a very popular application of these cameras is

popular application of these cameras is

popular application of these cameras is photo finish photography at racetracks

photo finish photography at racetracks

photo finish photography at racetracks we all think we know what we’re looking

we all think we know what we’re looking

we all think we know what we’re looking at when we’re looking at a photo finish

at when we’re looking at a photo finish

at when we’re looking at a photo finish photograph but I’m not so sure that that

photograph but I’m not so sure that that

photograph but I’m not so sure that that is really the case in this case we have

is really the case in this case we have

is really the case in this case we have the linear array in the camera aimed at

the linear array in the camera aimed at

the linear array in the camera aimed at the finish line on the track when the

the finish line on the track when the

the finish line on the track when the race has started the camera looks at the

race has started the camera looks at the

race has started the camera looks at the track but all I can see the dirt yeah

track but all I can see the dirt yeah

track but all I can see the dirt yeah dirt doesn’t move so it’s just leaving a

dirt doesn’t move so it’s just leaving a

dirt doesn’t move so it’s just leaving a bunch of lines but eventually a nose

bunch of lines but eventually a nose

bunch of lines but eventually a nose arrives at the linear array when that

arrives at the linear array when that

arrives at the linear array when that nose of the first force to get there to

nose of the first force to get there to

nose of the first force to get there to the into the linear array is seen by the

the into the linear array is seen by the

the into the linear array is seen by the pixels in that case it gets recorded and

pixels in that case it gets recorded and

pixels in that case it gets recorded and usually the rest of the horse follows

usually the rest of the horse follows

usually the rest of the horse follows the nose until the whole horse is passed

the nose until the whole horse is passed

the nose until the whole horse is passed by and at some later time another noise

by and at some later time another noise

by and at some later time another noise arrives and that is recorded also

arrives and that is recorded also

arrives and that is recorded also sequentially and then finally all the

sequentially and then finally all the

sequentially and then finally all the other horses pass by and you have a

other horses pass by and you have a

other horses pass by and you have a photo finish photograph such as this one

photo finish photograph such as this one

photo finish photograph such as this one I’d have a question to ask the audience

I’d have a question to ask the audience

I’d have a question to ask the audience and that is to tell me where the finish

and that is to tell me where the finish

and that is to tell me where the finish line is if you happen to pick that white

line is if you happen to pick that white

line is if you happen to pick that white line in that case you have

line in that case you have

line in that case you have misinterpreted how a scanning system

misinterpreted how a scanning system

misinterpreted how a scanning system like this works that is the finish line

like this works that is the finish line

like this works that is the finish line but it’s only the finish line at the

but it’s only the finish line at the

but it’s only the finish line at the time that horse number three was at the

time that horse number three was at the

time that horse number three was at the finish line horse number one won the

finish line horse number one won the

finish line horse number one won the race three before second five was five

race three before second five was five

race three before second five was five third and so on a photo finish

third and so on a photo finish

third and so on a photo finish photograph is an indisputable record of

photograph is an indisputable record of

photograph is an indisputable record of the order of finish of the race of the

the order of finish of the race of the

the order of finish of the race of the horses that’s because when you look at

horses that’s because when you look at

horses that’s because when you look at this photograph one way that I could

this photograph one way that I could

this photograph one way that I could tell if you’re on the same wavelength as

tell if you’re on the same wavelength as

tell if you’re on the same wavelength as I am is to ask you where is the finish

I am is to ask you where is the finish

I am is to ask you where is the finish line

line

line kind of an impertinent answer would be

kind of an impertinent answer would be

kind of an impertinent answer would be you’re looking at a dummy because it’s

you’re looking at a dummy because it’s

you’re looking at a dummy because it’s the whole picture is the finish line the

the whole picture is the finish line the

the whole picture is the finish line the right side the left side are different

right side the left side are different

right side the left side are different times altogether we’re not used to

times altogether we’re not used to

times altogether we’re not used to looking at time pictures instantaneously

looking at time pictures instantaneously

looking at time pictures instantaneously that’s what gets our minds confused you

that’s what gets our minds confused you

that’s what gets our minds confused you can do other things with this such as

can do other things with this such as

can do other things with this such as instead of horses you could photograph

instead of horses you could photograph

instead of horses you could photograph cars that are driving by just keep the

cars that are driving by just keep the

cars that are driving by just keep the camera still your aim it out there and

camera still your aim it out there and

camera still your aim it out there and as horses would cars drive by you can do

as horses would cars drive by you can do

as horses would cars drive by you can do the opposite and instead of having

the opposite and instead of having

the opposite and instead of having objects move you can have the camera

objects move you can have the camera

objects move you can have the camera move in this case in front of some

move in this case in front of some

move in this case in front of some buildings notice that the buildings show

buildings notice that the buildings show

buildings notice that the buildings show very little perspective to them in the

very little perspective to them in the

very little perspective to them in the horizontal dimension that’s because the

horizontal dimension that’s because the

horizontal dimension that’s because the horizontal dimension is the time

horizontal dimension is the time

horizontal dimension is the time dimension not some number of feet or

dimension not some number of feet or

dimension not some number of feet or some or measurable distance and if you

some or measurable distance and if you

some or measurable distance and if you rotate the camera then you make

rotate the camera then you make

rotate the camera then you make panoramic photographs such as in this

panoramic photographs such as in this

panoramic photographs such as in this case at a square in Toledo Spain now a

significant achievement of these cameras

significant achievement of these cameras was when they were launched on a Viking

was when they were launched on a Viking

was when they were launched on a Viking Lander on Mars and they were tasked with

Lander on Mars and they were tasked with

Lander on Mars and they were tasked with making a photograph of the landscape

making a photograph of the landscape

making a photograph of the landscape notice that slot on that box that is the

notice that slot on that box that is the

notice that slot on that box that is the slot through which the camera looks at

slot through which the camera looks at

slot through which the camera looks at the scene makes a picture of a line

the scene makes a picture of a line

the scene makes a picture of a line indexers make another line and so on and

indexers make another line and so on and

indexers make another line and so on and eventually end up with a 360-degree view

eventually end up with a 360-degree view

eventually end up with a 360-degree view of the surface the only problem was that

of the surface the only problem was that

of the surface the only problem was that these cameras could not make pictures of

these cameras could not make pictures of

these cameras could not make pictures of movie Martians if you’re gonna send a

movie Martians if you’re gonna send a

movie Martians if you’re gonna send a spend a billion dollars to send the

spend a billion dollars to send the

spend a billion dollars to send the rocket there you’d like to end up with

rocket there you’d like to end up with

rocket there you’d like to end up with pictures of Martians if they’re there

pictures of Martians if they’re there

pictures of Martians if they’re there well this camera couldn’t really do it

well this camera couldn’t really do it

well this camera couldn’t really do it very well now if you rotate an object in

very well now if you rotate an object in

very well now if you rotate an object in front of the camera such a piston you

front of the camera such a piston you

front of the camera such a piston you make a peripheral or roll out photograph

make a peripheral or roll out photograph

make a peripheral or roll out photograph such as this one or if a piston is too

such as this one or if a piston is too

such as this one or if a piston is too mundane for you in that case you could

mundane for you in that case you could

mundane for you in that case you could take an archeological object such such

take an archeological object such such

take an archeological object such such as these

as these

as these pottery or visors that are being

pottery or visors that are being

pottery or visors that are being reassembled and then shown in one flat

reassembled and then shown in one flat

reassembled and then shown in one flat sheet such as this now I know that you

sheet such as this now I know that you

sheet such as this now I know that you all have 35 millimeter or DSLRs how do

all have 35 millimeter or DSLRs how do

all have 35 millimeter or DSLRs how do you make one of those operate the same

you make one of those operate the same

you make one of those operate the same way as a linear array camera well

way as a linear array camera well

way as a linear array camera well following in and dance footsteps here I

following in and dance footsteps here I

following in and dance footsteps here I made my own based on cardboard take a

made my own based on cardboard take a

made my own based on cardboard take a cardboard box you’re black on the inside

cardboard box you’re black on the inside

cardboard box you’re black on the inside put a slot on the far end and the

put a slot on the far end and the

put a slot on the far end and the cameras gonna be looking through that

cameras gonna be looking through that

cameras gonna be looking through that slot and the camera will pan to the left

slot and the camera will pan to the left

slot and the camera will pan to the left to right or right to left so it’s a

to right or right to left so it’s a

to right or right to left so it’s a panning edge and this is the completed

panning edge and this is the completed

panning edge and this is the completed assembly and now although I was going to

assembly and now although I was going to

assembly and now although I was going to do a live demo of this it would take a

do a live demo of this it would take a

do a live demo of this it would take a little too much time I’m going to show

little too much time I’m going to show

little too much time I’m going to show you an abbreviated version by way of a

you an abbreviated version by way of a

you an abbreviated version by way of a short video let’s do how we duplicate

short video let’s do how we duplicate

short video let’s do how we duplicate with a regular camera what the linear

with a regular camera what the linear

with a regular camera what the linear array camera would do roll out and

array camera would do roll out and

array camera would do roll out and peripheral photographs shows all signs

peripheral photographs shows all signs

peripheral photographs shows all signs of a subject you start out by putting it

of a subject you start out by putting it

of a subject you start out by putting it in a third table and rotating it and

in a third table and rotating it and

in a third table and rotating it and then we look at it through I slipped

then we look at it through I slipped

then we look at it through I slipped into a box at the far end of the box

into a box at the far end of the box

into a box at the far end of the box then this is the inside of the box or

then this is the inside of the box or

then this is the inside of the box or you can see the slit you can see the

you can see the slit you can see the

you can see the slit you can see the rotating subject note and beyond it and

rotating subject note and beyond it and

rotating subject note and beyond it and this is a more enhanced view of the

this is a more enhanced view of the

this is a more enhanced view of the inside with light coming in and now

inside with light coming in and now

inside with light coming in and now we’ll extinguish the lights and we’re

we’ll extinguish the lights and we’re

we’ll extinguish the lights and we’re still looking what the camel would see

still looking what the camel would see

still looking what the camel would see and then we move the slit in the box to

and then we move the slit in the box to

and then we move the slit in the box to one side and the shutter is not closed

one side and the shutter is not closed

one side and the shutter is not closed we open the shutter and and the camera

we open the shutter and and the camera

we open the shutter and and the camera that causes the image of the slot to

that causes the image of the slot to

that causes the image of the slot to move across this in this plane and close

move across this in this plane and close

move across this in this plane and close the shark and wind up for the photograph

the shark and wind up for the photograph

the shark and wind up for the photograph like this or it might be a more regular

like this or it might be a more regular

like this or it might be a more regular subject such as a piston but you can

subject such as a piston but you can

subject such as a piston but you can also have lots of fun by photographing

also have lots of fun by photographing

also have lots of fun by photographing people

thank you

thank you [Applause]