1903-1990

Electrical engineer who developed the use of stroboscopic photography. Edgerton studied electrical engineering at the University of Nebraska, then went on to complete his graduate work at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In 1931 he pioneered the use of the stroboscope, a flashing strobe light that allows fast-moving objects to be photographed. His work led to the development of the modern electronic flash. Edgerton's stop-action photographs captured athletes, animals, and even bullets moving through mid-air. Edgerton was also a pioneer in underwater photography, collaborating with oceanographer Jacques-Yves Cousteau on numerous projects.