Magic of the Image: Photography Revealed 1999
Distributed by Films Media Group, PO Box 2053, Princeton, New Jersey 08543-2053; 800-257-5126
Produced by Universite Paris-Sud, Mission de l'information scientifique et technique, Service commun de l'audiovisuel d'Orsay & Centre national de la recherche scientifique, Département de chimie, Direction de l'information scientifique et technique
Directed by Serge Guyon, Jean-Louis Marignier, Georges Roussi
VHS, color, 27 min.
College - Adult
Photography
Date Entered: 11/09/2018
Reviewed by Robert Wick, Fine Arts Bibliographer, University of Colorado at DenverMagic of the Image: Photography Revealed presents an overview of the history of photography beginning with Joseph Niepce and Louis Daguerra and continuing through to modern electronic photography. The emphasis of the film is on the process of making photographs. There is very little information concerning the taking of photographs, or technical information on composition, depth-of-field, etc.. Much of the program is devoted to the chemistry of modern film development which is described in great detail. The section on the act of exposing film using computer imaging is very useful. Also, the recently rediscovered Niepce process is demonstrated for the first time on film which alone makes viewing this video worth while. Finally a very good look at the daguerreotype process is included.
While this video program is extremely brief considering the subject it attempts to cover, it is a very good introduction to the history of photographic image creation. The technical production values of the video are excellent. (Often so-called "educational films" fall down in this area.) But in the end the video is simply a short introduction of the photograph process suitable for students from middle school through college level. It would be a logical selection for both public and academic libraries.
RECOMMENDED