Childhood passion was entomology. Began his film career in Russia
around 1909, making little shorts on insects in and around Moscow. Later educated as an entomologist, he passionately wanted to film two stag beetles fighting, but they didn't like his camera lights and would not fight. However, the film idea led directly to his animation of insects by stop-motion photography; which in turn gave him the idea for what many believe to be his
masterpiece--
The Cameraman's Revenge (1912).