Seven years before the Lumières' historic first cinématographe show in Paris, the earliest known moving images were shot by another Frenchman in, of all places, West Yorkshire. Leeds Bridge is the most substantial and arguably the most appealing of the surviving fragments of Louis Le Prince's work as the location is still recognisable. It's also the first ever high angle shot, from an upper window of a shop on the south side of the bridge, which crosses the river Aire on the southern edge of the city centre — a plaque now marks the spot.
This glimpse of Leodians of 125 years ago making their everyday journeys on a route that's still notably as busy and bustling today is surely worth two seconds of anyone's time. Its maker disappeared mysteriously without trace on a train from Bourges to Dijon two years later.
This glimpse of Leodians of 125 years ago making their everyday journeys on a route that's still notably as busy and bustling today is surely worth two seconds of anyone's time. Its maker disappeared mysteriously without trace on a train from Bourges to Dijon two years later.