As we all know, photography has been around for well over a century and to say the art of photography has made great leaps and bounds technology-wise throughout the years and decades is an understatement. The idea of the moving picture has actually been around for thousands of years where people from all over the world have tried to incorporate what they saw into moving pictures. Even in ancient times, it seems like there was a need to accurately portray movement to the world around us.
The first animations
Interestingly, one of the first rotoscopes is of a horse running and it was created by Eadweard Muybridge in 1878. It was a landmark in cinematography at the time and paved the way for cinema as we know it today. Although it is vastly simple by today’s standards, this animation technique was essentially a cultural revolution that helped create what we know as cinema today. These sorts of aspects in technology simply due to a creative mind are the reasons we now have the ability to watch moving pictures as we do.
The photo finish
The photo finish in horse racing, like many other sports, is not just important but essential for the fact that there can be discrepancies that the filmed photo finish can nix. Umpires, at the end of that day, can be infallible in their presumptive decisions and it is commendable that they decide to resort to the technology that they have at their disposal.
This is where it becomes increasingly important when it comes to horse racing. If you have two or more rivals neck-and-neck at the finish line, then it is vitally important to find out which one is the clear winner to fairly divide up the winnings. From the Belmont racing to the world-famous Kentucky Derby, the photo finish has revolutionized the way we experience horse racing. Without the current technology that is readily available now, this would be a major source of conjecture amongst punters. Luckily, there is no longer an issue with this as the photo finish gives exact precision as to who came first across the finish line.
There have also been many times recently in tennis where an umpire has called a ball out only for it to have been proven to be on the line. A notable example of this is the time when Lleyton Hewitt played Jack Sock and Sock actually lost the shot and called it even when the umpire called it out. Video confirmed Sock was correct and the game went on with the crowd overwhelmingly appreciating Sock’s sportsmanship.
Technology aiding in sport
The takeaway from this is that video technology has helped to create a world where sports can be fair and balanced. Gone are the days where people would argue over whose horse won because the technology that is in play provides us with indisputable proof of a winner. The vast leaps and bounds of technology over the past century have helped make all sorts of sports clear and even, ranging from Formula 1 to Australian Rules Football, rugby, horse racing and even smaller more nuanced games like snooker and darts. The people behind the scenes that have made such technology possible are overwhelmingly underrated and should be celebrated more for the fact that it has made our experience of sports entertainment that much better.
