Along with his better-known French counterpart 'Georges Méliès' , close-ups and scene transitions involving wipes and focus pulls. He also patented Kinemacolor--the world's first commercial cinema color system--in 1906, which was extremely successful for a time, despite the special equipment required to project it
Member of the Brighton set, a group of early experimental English filmmakers.
At the end of 19th century he produced also "keyhole shots", a kind of short and voyeuristic films
He created some of the first glass shots.
In 1897 he patented a method to make double exposures.
He began his career as a portrait photographer
Co-developer, with partner Charles Urban , of an early color process called Kinemacolor in 1906.
Was the proprietor of St. Annes Well Pleasure Garden in Hove.
Was a fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society
His films were first distributed by the Warwick Trading Company, managed by American Charles Urban.
