Raderdiertje gefotografeerd door middel van een Micromotoscoop before 1897

Here we have a two-page spread featuring text and diagrams, likely from a scientific publication, showing “Raderdiertje gefotografeerd door middel van een Micromotoscoop” by Robert L. Watkins. The piece reveals early experimentation with microphotography and moving pictures. Watkins' work emerged during a period of significant scientific advancement where photography was being integrated into various fields of study. This integration was not without its challenges, as researchers sought to capture images of the unseen world, pushing the boundaries of technology and perception. Watkins writes, "Every electric lamp in the market, when its light has been concentrated sufficiently for photography, will, after a short time, with its heat, kill, dry up, or impair almost any kind of life in the microscopic field." The technical description of the micromotoscope offers insight into the mechanics of early film devices. It also highlights the labor and skill involved in capturing and projecting moving images of microscopic life. Through this we get a sense of the wonder and curiosity that drove early scientific exploration and experimentation.