FromtheLatinmeaning "darkchamber," a cameraobscuraisessentially a box, tent, orroomwith a lensorpinholeinoneend, and a reflectivesurfacelike a mirrorattheother.
In 1872, LelandStanford, theformergovernorofCaliforniaand a horseraceaficionado, made a betwithanotherbigwigthat a horseatfullgallopraisesallfourhoovesoffthegroundatsomepoint.
Eachoftheseinnovationssetup a fellowyoumayhaveheardofThomasEdisonand a scientistwhoworkedforhimnamed W.K.L. Dicksontoinventthekinetograph – theworld's firstmotionpicturefilmcamera.