Photographic Storytelling

San Mateo County Community College District

This program examines how photographers work with images to communicate stories and ideas and how viewers interpret those images. Message manipulation deriving from point of view, context, editing, superimposing, cropping, recoloring, and captioning are discussed. In addition, selective perception-seeing pictures through the filters of values and prejudices-is studied. Commentary is provided by Doug Nickel, curator of photography at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art; Joel Slayton, of the CADRE Laboratory for New Media at San Jose State University; Shanto Iyengar, director of the Political Communication Lab at Stanford University; and others. (27 minutes)

Portraits and Snapshots

San Mateo County Community College District

Since the Civil War, portrait and snapshot photography have provided a visual history of life-and transformed society. This program explores how professional and amateur photographers capture the essence of people while considering the intensely personal nature of portraits and snapshots, their use as means of self-exploration and cultural narrative, and concerns involving their commodification and decontextualization. Commentary is provided by photographers Michael Collopy, Dale Kistemaker, Larry Sultan, Catherine Wagner, Richard Barnes, and Ed Kashi. (27 minutes)

World of Ideas: Susan Sontag

Doctoroff Media Group

The late Susan Sontag was not a photographer, yet her famous book On Photography is required reading in almost every serious photography course in the world. Her novels and nonfiction books such as Illness as a Metaphor have been translated into a score of languages. And she also wrote and directed films and plays. In this program, the renowned writer and human rights activist talks with Bill Moyers about Regarding the Pain of Others, her book on war and how the images of war affect people's perception of reality, and other aspects of her life and career. (49 minutes)

Portraits: How to Take Stunning Photos

Carlton International Media

Celebrity photographer Harry Borden has photographed everyone from Robin Williams and Angelina Jolie to Tony Blair and Margaret Thatcher. In this inspiring program, Borden shares cool camera secrets with two aspiring photographers in a master class that shows how to turn snapshots of friends and family into professional-looking portraits. The students are then put to the test with assignments that include producing a heroic portrait for the charity Help for Heroes. Topics include separation of subject and background, finding unusual angles, creating painterly effects, evoking emotions, telling a story, and more. Part of the series How to Take Stunning Photos. (23 minutes)

Landscape: How to Take Stunning Photos

Carlton International Media

Shooting a stunning landscape should be easy, right? Just find a beautiful location, let nature do its thing, and press the shutter. But if it’s really that simple, why do the vast majority of amateur-shot vistas never come out the way they're supposed to? In this program, renowned landscape photographer Charlie Waite shares his secrets of how to capture a stunning panorama with two beginners who long to escape city life for weekends in the wild. Topics include searching for unusual perspectives, finding a focal point, creating depth with foreground objects, choosing a shot based on design elements (color, texture, lines, etc.) instead of literal subject matter, and more. Part of the series How to Take Stunning Photos. (24 minutes)

Dark Light: The Art of Blind Photographers

HBO

Directed and produced by award-winning photographer/filmmaker Neil Leifer, this 31-minute documentary demonstrates, through an extreme example, how creative people with disabilities are transcending their limitations to create art. The subjects in Dark Light: The Art of Blind Photographers have been drawn to photography for different reasons, whether to create an image for the sighted world that they hold in their mind, or to capture an image experienced through nature (as is the case for one legally-blind scuba diver). As we see, each artist displays a drive and passion to create, and views the medium of photography as an opportunity rather than impossibility. Several professional, sighted photographers are interviewed by Leifer in the film; though each is initially skeptical about the ability of a blind person to take effective photos, they are all eventually swayed by the zeal and brio with which these artists work. An HBO Production. 

Cartier-Bresson’s Century

WINDROSE

Few have revolutionized photography as much as French photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson has. The father of modern photojournalism contributed spreading the "street photography" or "life reportage", a style that influenced generations of photographers. In this documentary, he narrates the crucial moments of his life, such as his meeting with Gandhi, while his shots illustrate his work. Portions with English subtitles.

Fridays At The Farm

Green Planet Films

Feeling disconnected from their food, a filmmaker and his family decide to join a local community supported organic farm. As he photographs the growing process, the filmmaker moves from passive observer to active participant in the planting and harvesting of vegetables. Featuring lush time-lapse and macro photography sequences compiled from nearly 20,000 still images, this personal essay is a father’s meditation on his blossoming family and community.

Press Usage: Photo

ARTE France

The alliance of photography with the popular press led to an era of creativity in the medium in the 1930s, with eye-catching layouts replacing the traditional rectangular photo format. But before long press photography took on a potent life of its own. The men and women behind the camera became special witnesses to current events and through newspaper reporting were able to pass their visions on to the wider world. Dorothea Lange’s “Migrant Mother” made an impact as soon as it was published, as did Walker Evans’ evocative series on Alabama sharecroppers and images by Weegee, Robert Capa, and Brassaï. This program profiles these and other 20th-century photojournalists, with a special look at Henri Cartier-Bresson’s “The People of Moscow,” Josef Koudelka’s photos of the invasion of Czechoslovakia, and Richard Avedon’s portraits for Rolling Stone. A part of the series Photo . (26 minutes)

Shedding Light on Curved Mirrors

Liacos Educational Media

Most of us have experienced the amusement (and possible embarrassment) that goes with standing in front of a distorted funhouse mirror. What many people don’t realize is that convex and concave mirrors are actually quite useful. Beginning with a basic discussion of reflection in flat mirrors, this video shows how curved mirrors are used in a wide variety of industrial and safety-related applications. Viewers learn how convex mirrors are important tools in automobile driving, traffic management, and security due to their outwardly curved surfaces…and likewise, how concave mirrors produce images and how concave reflectors are incorporated into designs for headlights, satellite dishes, solar cookers, and more. The concept of angle of incidence is discussed in detail. As a departure point for more advanced subjects like linear curved reflectors and parabolic reflectors, this is a helpful and entertaining primer. (48 minutes)

After Photography? Photo

ARTE France

Does the decline of the darkroom mean the end of “real” photography? This program profiles contemporary artists who use a variety of methods to create photographs, from the analog-only lomographers to those who employ the computer as a camera. Adaptation of traditional techniques is seen in works by Frederic Lebain, who prefers an old Instamatic; Vera Lutter, who built a room-sized camera obscura; and in Christian Marclay’s homage to 19th-century cyanotypes. The video also examines the many ways in which photographers have embraced digital technology, such as Heather Dewey-Haborg’s “photo sculptures” based on DNA; Joan Fontcuberta’s “Googlegrams,” mosaics of thousands of images culled from the Internet; and Oleg Dou’s eerie portraits of children who look more online-avatar than human. Also covers Andreas Gursky, Beata Gutschow, Loretta Lux, Thomas Friedman, Thomas Ruff, and Jules Spinatsch. A part of the series Photo. (26 minutes)

Time Limits

ORF

We perceive time in terms of seconds, the length of a heartbeat. Time Limits uses a combination of computer animation, real time images, and the latest science to provide a new view of our world and our universe. Specially developed motion-control time-lapse photography will bring to life the slow motion world of plants and the beautiful play of day and night. As the journey continues we experience shorter timescales to find elements that exist for less than a millionth of a second. Join the team that made Limits of Perception on a fascinating journey to the limits of time. (50 minutes)

Stryker's America: Photographing the Great Depression

Justin Schauble

Roy E. Stryker headed the Historical Division of the Farm Security Administration from 1935 to 1943. This program tells the story of how Stryker, a low-level federal bureaucrat with integrity and vision, managed a massive New Deal project to document the Great Depression. These photos-nearly 200,000 by both established and aspiring photographers, including Dorothea Lange, Gordon Parks, Arthur Rothstein, and many others-became the defining statement of the era. Many signature images of poverty and hardship are included. Narrated by Beverly Brannan, curator of photography at the Library of Congress; Alan Fern, retired director of the National Portrait Gallery; and Peter Kuznick, professor of history at American University. (23 minutes)

Architectural Techniques

Filmoption International

Like other technologies, architecture has changed across the centuries. The discovery of new materials, the understanding of physical principles, and the development of new construction techniques have permitted architects to extend the boundaries of the possible. This program demonstrates some of the basic architectural techniques, such as the arch and the use of beams; shows how lasers and photography are used in conjunction with traditional techniques to preserve endangered monuments; and reveals innovative uses of textiles in an architectural context. (23 minutes)

Lana Slezic: Snapshot: The Art of Photography

Sound Venture

From Oakville, but with a passion for action and travel, Lana's work includes stunning portraits of Afghanistan women. She arrived in Kabul on assignment expecting to stay a month, instead she stayed on for one year. She now lives in India where she continues to explore human nature through her lens. For Snapshot, Slezic will shoot on assignment in New Delhi for Maclean's Magazine and Canadian Geographic.

Documenting the Face of America: Roy Stryker and the FSA/OWI Photographers

Butler Films

Beginning in 1935, a group of New Deal–sponsored photographers roamed the American landscape, capturing the human face of the Great Depression. This film tells the story of the mammoth project, supervised by Roy Stryker of the Farm Security Administration and later made part of the Office of War Information. Viewers will encounter the poignant, iconic images and personal challenges of photographers Gordon Parks, Dorothea Lange, Walker Evans, Marion Post Wolcott, and other visionaries. Interviews with Parks, Louise Rosskam, and Bernarda Shahn—wife of painter and photographer Ben Shahn—shed light on a period in which artistic innovation formed a response to social and economic despair. (56 minutes)

The Hungry Eye: Walker Evans

NewsHour Productions

The stark, deceptively simple photographs of Walker Evans have become a part of America's collective memory, forever capturing the places and faces of times long gone. In this program, NewsHour correspondent Ray Suarez outlines Evans' life while talking with Jeff Rosenheim, curator of photography at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and Evans' close friend William Christenberry, about the late photographer's approach to his art, his collaboration with writer James Agee on Let Us Now Praise Famous Men, his love of advertising signage, and other topics. (15 minutes)

Territories: A Profile of Photographer Larry Towell

Filmoption International

A giant in the world of documentary photography, Larry Towell has garnered several top-level honors, including the 2005 Priz Nadar and the first Henri Cartier-Bresson Award. This program follows Towell as he uses his camera to confront foreboding landscapes and shed light on struggling communities—drawing parallels between the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the militarization of the U.S.-Mexico border. Towell also reflects on the creative process, offers insight into the photojournalist’s trade, and describes his experiences as an eyewitness to the 9/11 attack on New York City. His thoughtful commentary accompanies numerous examples of his work. (53 minutes)

Kodak

Limonero Films

It was a household brand with profits in the millions, but in 2005 Kodak filed for bankruptcy—so what went so horribly wrong? Inside The Storm: Lessons from the Boardroom interviews the people directly involved, uncovering the decisions and the mistakes that led to the collapse of the iconic company.

Rare: Creatures of the Photo Ark - Part 1

PBS

Join Joel Sartore as he travels to Madagascar and the Florida Keys on his mission to photograph beautiful and endangered animals for the Photo Ark. In Florida, he checks in on the Key Deer, a species that he first saw 20 years ago.

The Man Who Shot New York

TVF International

The Man Who Shot New York explores the life and work of one of America’s master photographers, Harold Feinstein. In his 2015 obituary, the New York Times declared him “one of the most accomplished recorders of the American experience.” Howard Greenberg says Feinstein “occupies high ground in the pantheon of street photography” yet, most people have never heard of him. Feinstein photographed life in all its forms, when and where he wished. His 35mm black and white photographs captured the essence of life with a humanist eye. The re-discovery of Feinstein’s vast and diverse body of work came in his final years and the film meets him then; in his early 80s and with a Zen-like appreciation for the life he lived. A renowned teacher and spiritual guide with a hedonistic appetite for life, Feinstein is remembered as a guru as well as an artist. With unrestricted access to his archive, much of it unseen before, the film shows how Feinstein’s unique outlook on life was reflected in his life-affirming photography.

Introduction and Equipment

MZed

Bob Davis begins the series by introducing lighting with speedlites and giving an overview of what's inside his typical gear kit for a shoot.

Couples

MZed

Shooting couple portraits can result in some of the most powerful and memorable images, but come with their own unique challenges. In this episode Clay shares with us his complete techniques for getting the best results when shooting couples.

Hanson Fong on Group Portraits

MZed

Closing out the series, we return to the studio of Hanson Fong to discuss the best approaches to family and group portraits. Then Clay sits down with Sandy Puc to discuss her charity and what keeps her motivated.

Live Demo I - Posing

MZed

In the first live demonstration of the series, Jerry Ghionis completely breaks down his approach to posing, providing invaluable guidance throughout for how to communicate with your subjects.

Live Demo III - Tips and Tricks to Wow!

MZed

In this episode Jerry Ghionis continues to shoot in a range of scenarios, showing a variety of tips and tricks to get amazing and dynamic portraits.

Think Differently

MZed

In this episode Jerry Ghionis encourages us to have more fun when shooting, showing us a range of highlights from his portfolio and archives, and showing how he broke the conventional rules to get amazing results.

Timelapse

MZed

In this episode Philip demystifies timelapse shots. He steps us through the equipment as well as his tips and techniques for of all styles—short, long, day-to-night and astro timelapse—and gives an understanding of how he uses this visual technique to enhance a story.

Model Portraits In-Studio

MZed

In this episode, Stephen Eastwood demonstrates the use of speedlites during a beauty shoot with various models and poses.

Andreas Gursky - Long Shot Close Up

Autentic Distribution GmbH

This is a unique portrayal of artist Andreas Gursky and one of his most popular works, Hamm Bergwerk Ost. It follows the image’s journey—from conception, to construction, to contraction and to reaction—until it found its home in a worthy collection, which holds many of its “siblings”: the private collection of one of the wealthiest men in the Ukraine, Victor Pinchuk. Pinchuk later revealed his personal connection to the piece.

Episode 2: On the Road (Icon: Music Through the Lens)

PBS

Live music photography has provided some of its most visually striking and era-defining imagery. Hear first-hand recollections and eye-opening stories from early trailblazers and those still devoted to capturing the magic of live music.

Episode 3: On the Record (Icon: Music Through the Lens)

PBS

The evolution of record sleeve photography from its early roots to the modern-day music genres is discussed by art directors, musicians and the music photographers responsible for some of the world’s most iconic album covers.

Episode 4: On the Cover (Icon: Music Through the Lens)

PBS

Music magazines played a pivotal role in elevating music photography to iconic status. Hear the uncensored and often unheard stories behind these amazing photographs alongside the enduring appeal and importance of the printed page.

Episode 5: On the Wall (Icon: Music Through the Lens)

PBS

Examine the transition of music photography from a niche pastime to a highly collectable art form. Take a look at the relationship between art and commerce, and trace the journey from low-paid assignments up through gallery exhibitions.

Citizen Khan

Terranoa

Born in 1860, Albert Khan made a name for himself as a banker, philanthropist and pacifist. His life and vision reflect on the utopia and humanistic beliefs of the first half of the 20th Century. Discover the man behind the richest collection of the first color photographs (Autochrome) captured between 1909 and 1931, documenting the world’s diversity and portraying people and arts from around the world. A priceless treasure which has fueled the imagination of generations of travelers and filmmakers.

Willard Van Dyke

Lightborne Communications, Inc.

The founder of the Group f/64, Van Dyke talks in this interview about Edward Weston, Ansel Adams, and Imogen Cunningham. He also explains the influence that Dorothea Lang had on his work. This interview also includes a dialogue between Van Dyke and Ralph Steiner.

Photography

CNN

Three Rwandan men, orphaned by unspeakable horrors, used photography to help heal their wounds; Kenyan Thandiwe Muriu uses her unique eye to change perceptions of African beauty.

A Choice of Weapons: Inspired by Gordon Parks

HBO

For decades, trailblazing photographer Gordon Parks brought the human struggle of the Black community out of the shadows and onto the pages of LIFE magazine. This documentary explores Parks' enduring legacy through the lens of three contemporary photographers, and spotlights his visionary work and its impact on the next generation of artists.

Anne Geddes: Photographer

Prime Entertainment Group

Anne Geddes is an Australian photographer who specializes in photographing newborns. After a difficult childhood on a cattle farm, she dropped out of school at 17. Later, she married and moved to Hong Kong for her husband’s work. There she taught herself photography and built up a small portfolio. Back in Australia, she started her own studio from her garage. In this program, we learn about her love of babies, what she thought was wrong about traditional baby photography, and what she considers the most important element in an image: the emotional content.

Rare: Creatures of the Photo Ark - Part 3

PBS

Travel with photographer Joel Sartore as he adds vibrant insects to his Photo Ark collection and searches for larger animals in Budapest and Prague. Joel also tags along on a Rowi kiwi egg rescue in New Zealand.

Episode 6: Paradise on Earth (Civilizations)

PBS

This episode explores how cultures have depicted the natural world in landscape painting throughout history. We investigate the way that landscape painting is created as a response to the world around us, exploring such ideas as paradise, identity and the depiction of the vastness of nature to oppositional to industrialization. We explore landscape photography, from Ansel Adams’ majestic depictions of Yosemite, to modern photography and a new kind of landscape which explores the cosmic sublime.

Curious Creatives

CNN

African artists combine creativity and imagination, inspiring great artistic expression.

Artistic Revolutionaries

CNN

We discover three artistic pioneers, each with an intriguing double life that allowed them to break the mold and revolutionise the world of art.

Romano Cagnoni: War Photographer

Off the Fence

Romano Cagnoni was an international, award-winning photographer, known as one of the foremost photographers of the 20th century. His photographs have been featured on the cover and front page of nearly every significant news magazine and paper in Europe and the United States. He is most known for his documentary work of the wars and conflicts around the globe and this is his last interview.

Portraits and Dreams

PBS

Portraits and Dreams revisits the photographs created by Kentucky school children in the 1970s.The film is about the students, their work as visionary photographers, the lives they have made since then and the passage of time.

Practical Strategies for Resolving Conflict

ClickView Pty Limited

Managing conflict effectively is essential to a productive work environment. This program plays out some of the potential conflicts that can occur in an aged care facility, shows the negative responses to disagreements, and then offers practical techniques to better deal with disagreements in a health care setting. Actors demonstrate how conflicts between staff and relatives can often be resolved by using fogging and negative assertion; how tension between peers can be alleviated by self-disclosure and free information; and how disagreements between staff and superiors can be dealt with using the broken-record, workable-compromise, and negative-inquiry techniques. Part 2 of the series Conflict Management in Health Care. (19 minutes)

Eugene and Berenice: Pioneers of Urban Photography

Michael House

Often called the father of modern photography, Frenchman Eugene Atget embraced a heartfelt realism that influenced generations of younger photographers-including an American, Berenice Abbott, who championed him in his later career and carried on his legacy. This program examines the work of both artists, juxtaposing Atget's Paris oeuvre with Abbott's views of New York, describing how their paths crossed amidst the Parisian avant-garde, shedding light on their unlikely connection to the surrealists, and helping viewers understand the aesthetic and personal bond they shared. Rare archival interview footage featuring Abbott is included, along with commentary from photographers working today.

Introduction to Photography and Visual Literacy

San Mateo County Community College District

Movies, magazines, TV, billboards, the Web-the world is filled with captivating photographic images competing for viewers' attention. Not surprisingly, citizens of the Global Village are experiencing a growing need for visual literacy: the ability to read between the lines and extract meaning from that daily bombardment. This program takes a close look at the vital importance of visual language skills, how information overload is shortening the human attention span, the proliferation of iconographic communication, and implications for America's education system. A capsule history of photography, with insights into the medium's future, is included. (27 minutes)

Action: How to Take Stunning Photos

Carlton International Media

A three-time recipient of Britain’s prestigious Sports Photographer of the Year award, Bob Martin knows how to get a winning shot. From Andre Agassi to Zinedine Zidane, he has captured them all in action. In this exhilarating master class, which takes viewers from horse jumping to skateboarding to martial arts, Martin shows not only how to nail that game-changing moment but also how to make a shot bold enough to stand out from the crowd. Topics include common-sense tips for memory storage and battery power as well as getting close to the action, capturing fan reactions and other supplementary shots, working with composition and background elements, and more. Part of the series How to Take Stunning Photos. (23 minutes)

Fred Herzog: Snapshot: The Art of Photography

Sound Venture

Fred Herzog was born in Stuttgart Germany but is a Vancouver treasure. As a young man with no photographic skills, he arrived in Vancouver in 1952 and after picking up a camera he started documenting the city he came to love and call home. He captured the city and its life in startling historical detail. His work today is highly collectable and commands international attention. And he still wanders the city with his beloved camera looking to freeze more time for eternity.

Lincoln Clarkes': Snapshot: The Art of Photography

Sound Venture

Lincoln Clarkes' relationship with the street and its inhabitants is the subject of his work. Clarkes has been documenting life and death for over three decades and continues to find powerful imagery in the faces and lives of the every-man and woman. His award-winning work includes the stunning doc series, 'Heroines', which focuses on female addicts, down but not quite out in Vancouver's notorious downtown eastside.

Adam Makarenko: Snapshot: The Art of Photography

Sound Venture

The world of Adam Makarenko is shrinking. His photographic pursuit is constructing life-like dioramas depicting everything from the real to the surreal in miniature scale. He painstakingly builds entire sets dedicated to themes, then spends days photographing his mini masterpieces. His eye for detail is second to none and his final images are stunning. Makarenko's photography has won him many prestigious awards, while his work is also currently hanging at the AGO. In addition to his photography, he is in demand as a music video director where his stills works are used as inspiration for the imagination of musical artists.

The Vivian Maier Mystery: A Secret Passion for Photography

Cinetic Rights Management LLC.

This documentary uncovers the life of Vivian Maier, a nanny working in New York and Chicago who, unbeknownst to many, had a secret passion for photography. When she died in 2009 at the age of 83, she left behind thousands of photographs and undeveloped rolls of film that were discovered by several collectors at a Chicago auction house. Maier's incredible body of work now lives on and establishes her as one of the century's master street photographers. The Vivian Maier Mystery uncovers the story behind the woman behind the camera.

Covering War (The Color of War)

History Education

This program captures the experiences of the combat photographers, war correspondents, combat artists, radio personalities, and others who documented World War II. Distributed by A&E Television Networks. A part of the series The Color of War. (45 minutes)

Barbara Cole: Snapshot: The Art of Photography

Sound Venture

Barbara literally dives into her work, the pool, to photograph images suspended in water, models magically moving in poetry in the clear atmosphere of H2O. Cole has been able to mix fashion and fine art to become a true maverick in her artistic approach, making her work both highly collectable and respected. Her work back on dry land is equally evocative.

Animals: How to Take Stunning Photos

Carlton International Media

In this master class on video, award-winning photographer Tim Flach demonstrates how to put a dynamic spin on animal portraits. Flach, who is famous for crossing over from commercial animal pictures to breathtaking fine art photography, encourages his students to think about the relationships between themselves and their pets. Joining this fascinating learning session is a charity volunteer hoping to take better pictures of his organization's rescue dogs, in the hope of finding homes for them more quickly. Topics include deciding which characteristics of an animal should be emphasized, making a plan to adapt the idea photographically, dealing with an animal's unpredictable nature, and more. Part of the series How to Take Stunning Photos. (23 minutes)

Travel: How to Take Stunning Photos

Carlton International Media

The typical tourist snapshot rarely does justice to exotic locations or unfamiliar surroundings. Determined to put a stop to this trend, photojournalist and documentary filmmaker Martin Parr guides a class of amateurs through the art of taking memorable vacation photos. Martin uses his own witty photographic observations of tourism as a starting point to show his students how to turn mundane views into extraordinary perspectives. Topics include engaging with local people, emphasizing certain emotions, avoiding clichés, telling a story, considering differences and similarities with regard to one’s home environment, deciding whether to focus on details or the “big picture,” and more. Part of the series How to Take Stunning Photos. (23 minutes)

Staged Photography: Photo

ARTE France

At some point during the early 20th century staged photography fell out of fashion, but in the 1960s it made a spectacular comeback, enriched by the external influences of popular culture. This program explains how staged photography has been used to deconstruct the idea of literal photographic realism. Also explored are the ways in which this art form trounces the notion of a camera’s objectivity, as in Cindy Sherman’s parodies of B-movie portrayals of imperiled women, and Jeff Wall’s elaborate reinterpreting of classic paintings to make statements about modern life. The video also covers Mac Adams, Duane Michals, Eugene Meatyard, Bernard Faucon, David Levinthal, Thomas Demand, and Hiroshi Sugimoto, and discusses “Chance Meeting,” “Hiding Behind the Eyes,” “Things are Queer,” “Mystery Series,” “The Destroyed Room,” “The Vampires’ Picnic,” and “The Flying Child.” A part of the series Photo . (26 minutes)

Catching Lightning With Photography

Inside Science

The history of photographing lightning really starts with the history of photography. The invention of photography was announced in 1839 in Paris; the photograph that was produced was called the Daguerreotype, named after Louis Daguerre. It was several years later before the first lightning photograph was made, and several decades would pass before there was the first successful efforts to photograph lightning for the purpose of science.

More Than The Rainbow

First Run Features

After three decades turning his lens on New York City, taxi driver turned street photographer Matt Weber has seen it all. More Than the Rainbow not only chronicles the life and times of Weber, but becomes a vibrant conversation about the photographic medium, artistic expression, and New York City. There is no telling how many stories Weber has attempted to capture since he first started taking pictures out of the window of the cab he used to drive. But his quarter century-plus devotion to candidly depicting the lives of his fellow New Yorkers, many of them from the fringes of society, has yielded a remarkable document of a New York that most of us will never experience. Shot partially in gorgeous 35mm and largely scored to the music of Thelonious Monk, More Than the Rainbow interweaves verité, still photography and revealing interviews with Weber and fellow photographers like Ralph Gibson, Zoe Strauss, and Eric Kroll, as well as designer Todd Oldham to create an evocative documentary that is a poetic celebration of the world's greatest city and the individuals who walk its streets.

Carl Sandburg and Edward Steichen on the Photo Exhibit “The Family of Man”

Creative Arts Television DBA Aviva Films Ltd

On this episode of Adventure, explore images from Edward Steichen's Family of Man exhibit while Carl Sandburg reads his commentary. Harry L. Shapiro, anthropologist, and Former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt discuss its inspiration.

How a Digital Camera Works: Photography Skills and Techniques

ClickView Pty Limited

Understanding the effect of different lighting conditions on a subject and knowing how to compose a balanced image are key skills for any photographer. How these elements work together can be complex, but learning how to achieve different outcomes will make your photography more interesting and fun. This program explores how lighting, composition and shooting techniques are combined to create the final image.

Lighting, Composition and Shooting: Photography Skills and Techniques

ClickView Pty Limited

Understanding the effects of different lighting conditions on a subject and composing a balanced image are important photography skills. This video explains the basics of lighting, rules of composition, and shooting techniques including: lighting angles, aperture, depth of field, shutter speed, and exposure. Follow along as our photographer provides helpful explanations and visual examples of these basics.

A Conversation With Robert Whitman: Conversations with Giants

Epsilon

Photographer Robert Whitman has always had a passion for photography. Do not miss John's chat with Robert as they cover everything from shooting Prince to the evolution of photography in advertising and the freedom inherent in pursuing creativity.

An Eye for Art

CNN

From sketching street scenes and creating graffiti murals to capturing everyday life with a camera, artists are showing us their Africa.

Senegal Women of Style

CNN

Three women redefine style in Senegal: a designer adds a twist to traditional fashion; a photographer highlights beauty in unexpected places; an up and coming fashion mogul.

Photography in the Middle East

CNN

Enter the creative minds of some of the region's up-and-coming photographers and their mission to promote photography from the Middle East.

Landscape Photographer Races to Finish Decades of Work (4/15/18)

NewsHour Productions

Oregon photographer Christopher Burkett is best known for producing large-format film prints of American landscapes—some of the highest-resolution color photographs ever created without computer technology. But he only has a limited supply of the materials, which have been discontinued, making his current work a race against the clock. NewsHour Weekend Special Correspondent Joanne Elgart Jennings reports.

Focus Iran – A Daring Vision

ARTE France

In this Islamic Republic, a creative and daring young photographic scene is committed to giving its country a new image to the world. The film presents us with a unique artistic scene in the world—always using humor and metaphor in their work to bypass censorship. This movie sheds a new light on Iran, a complex country torn between tradition and modernity—a country in which these photographers have chosen to stay, out of passion and pride, despite the difficulties to work and live here. The photographers Solmaz Daryani, Gohar Dashti, Shadi Ghadirian, Abbas Kowsari, Tahmineh Monzavi, and Newsha Tavakolianare the main actors of the film. Anahita Ghabaian, one of the most famous photo gallery directorsof Iran, is a thread of the film. We follow the photographers on their shootings, in their studios, and on different locations. The filmis articulated around their narrative and personal analysis of their ventures, giving us a new insight of this country and its history.Focus Iranis a journey from Teheran to Quashan, and up to Lake Urmia, far northwest from Iran, close to theAzerbaijan frontier.

Ralph Steiner

Lightborne Communications, Inc.

A forerunner in the documentary style, both as a photographer and as a cinematographer, in this interview, Stein speaks of his beginnings, shares his views on photographic education, and talks about other early documentary photographs.

Ruth Bernhard

Lightborne Communications, Inc.

For more than fifty years, Bernhard responded to the physical philosophical reality around her with an intense expression that communicated her perception and awareness eloquently.

Outdoor Portraits II

MZed

To complete the series, Stephen Eastwood walks us through various outdoor scenarios including a pool, beach, pier, and finishing with an evening city skyline.

Live Demo I - DIY "Dirty" Lighting

MZed

In this first live shoot of the course, Bob introduces you to "dirty lighting" and takes you through a shoot from start to finish.

Live Demo IV - Bringing a Space to Life

MZed

In Gary, Indiana Bob takes us through a photo session in an abandoned theatre, covering how to use lighting to create a 'mood' and have a space come to life for dramatic and stunning results.

Men and Women

MZed

In this first episode of the series, Clay sets the foundation of posing, lighting and camera position. He guides us through his tips and techniques for individual portraits for men and women of all styles.

Five Steps to a Powerful Photo

MZed

As we commence the course, Jerry Ghionis asks us to define what it means to "wow" with your photography. He gives us his recipe for creating photos that will blow away your audience, be they clients, friends, or family, before giving a thorough break-down of lighting techniques to enhance your "wow" factor for either male or female subjects.

Problem Solving when Posing

MZed

Jerry Ghionis takes us through his archives showing both good and bad examples of posing and lighting, giving tips and techniques for flattering subjects of all types.

Live Demo II - Easy Lighting Setups

MZed

In a typical wedding reception style setup, Jerry Ghionis shows how to get great results every time just using on-camera flash. He then moves on to working with a light meter and shooting in available light, before finishing with a series of examples shooting with the versatile Ice Light.

Evoking Emotion

MZed

In the final episode of How to Wow, Jerry Ghionis gives a masterclass on how to evoke emotion through photography including intimate portraits from his own wedding day.

Betty Hahn

Lightborne Communications, Inc.

Internationally recognized photographer, Betty Hahn, discusses her introduction to the world of non-silver printing by her mentor Henry Holmes Smith. She describes in detail the production of some of her works.

Elliot Porter

Lightborne Communications, Inc.

Interviewed at his home in New Mexico, Porter gave us an intriguing insight into his evolution from an established career in science and medicine to his place as one the major visionaries in nature photography.

Episode 1: On Camera (Icon: Music Through the Lens)

PBS

What defines an iconic image? This question provides the central theme for episode one as we are introduced to some of music photography’s greatest names.

Episode 6: On the Net (Icon: Music Through the Lens)

PBS

Where does music photography sit in the contemporary pop culture landscape? The seismic switch from analogue to digital is discussed alongside the rise and influence of social media. Does music photography still have a role to play?

Hockney on Photography

Wavelength Pictures

The career of one of Britain’s greatest painters tells us as much about his skill with a camera as his facility with a brush. In this program, David Hockney invites viewers on a journey of discovery that traces the evolution of his photographic work—from his initial experiments in the 1970s through the high point of his photo collage period, exemplified in Nude, featuring Theresa Russell, and another crowning achievement, Pearblossom Highway. The film was produced with unprecedented access not only to the artist himself but to his huge photographic archive, much of which has never been shown publicly. Hockney’s use of photography in related media, such as drawing, painting, fax art, and photocopying, is also explored in detail. (52 minutes)

Captured Light: The Invention of Still Photography (Modern Marvels)

Modern Marvels

The development of the still camera was one of the most significant advances of the age of invention. The captured image has transformed the way we see our world, preserving moments forever with the push of a button. Modern Marvels presents the strange saga of the birth of photography, and the men at the heart of this tale. See how Frenchman Joseph Nicephore Niepce was the first to succeed in photographing an image in 1826, but his work was co-opted after his death by the artist and showman Louis Jacques Mande Daguerre. The Daguerreotype became popular, and Daguerre claimed the credit for himself, never recognizing the work of his former partner. Trace the story of Englishman William Henry Fox Talbot, who invented the negative-positive process that is still used today. And see how George Eastman brought photography to the masses with his affordable, easy to use cameras. With expert interviews and incredible images from the early days of photography including Matthew Brady's legendary images of the Civil War. Distributed by A&E Television Networks. (45 minutes)

Half Past Autumn: The Life and Art of Gordon Parks

NewsHour Productions

In this PBS NewsHour report, 85-year-old Gordon Parks discusses his multifaceted, lifelong career in the arts. Best known, perhaps, for his photography, Mr. Parks has documented the plight of the poor as a photojournalist with Life magazine, the lives of the famous, and the looks of the fashion elite. A distinguished film director, poet, author, composer, and digital art pioneer as well, Gordon Parks has spent his life getting to know the world one person at a time. Yet in a career spanning more than 50 years and packed with noteworthy accomplishments, Mr. Parks feels that his best works are still to be done. (12 minutes)

Cell Duplication: Growth and Change

Goldcrest Films

This program uses the fascinating setting of a circus to provide the analogy for growth. A magician creating the illusion of multiplying balls introduces micro-photography showing how cells divide and multiply. The program shows how bones are continually being built and destroyed and, in a spectacular sequence of time-lapse photography, actually captures a tooth growing-from the moment it first peeps out of the gum until it falls out. (26 minutes)

Decoding Photographic Images

San Mateo County Community College District

When setting up a shot, a photographer works with composition, lighting, and color to create a subliminal subtext that reinforces or even carries the meaning of his or her subject. This program illustrates how basic components of photography-line, shape, form, texture, balance, volume duality, point of view, depth of field, and perspective-contribute to an image's impact on the subconscious mind. Commentary is provided by Herb Zettl, author of the seminal Sight Sound Motion, and photographers Jo Whaley, Stephen Johnson, Larry Sultan, and Catherine Wagner. (27 minutes)

Photography: Making Art and Recording Life

San Mateo County Community College District

Once strictly considered a visual recording device, the camera has expanded beyond its documentational niche and made places for itself in the worlds of fine art, advertising, and news media as well. This program describes existing and emerging genres in the photographic arts, including documentary photography, portraiture, still life, commercial photography, and photojournalism. Commentary is provided by Steve Luker, formerly a creative director with ad agency Publicis & Hal Riney, and photographers Larry Sultan, Ed Kashi, Richard Barnes, Jo Whaley, Dale Kistemaker, and Catherine Wagner. (27 minutes)

Persuasion, Propaganda, and Photography

San Mateo County Community College District

This program addresses the emotionally manipulative power of photography by illustrating how commercial advertising has created an obsession with youth and physical perfection and can exploit viewers' fascinations with celebrity, sexuality, and violence. The video also demonstrates how photogenic people who adroitly use the visual media have come to dominate the political scene. Commentary is provided by Steve Luker, formerly a creative director with Publicis & Hal Riney; Shanto Iyengar, director of the Political Communication Lab at Stanford University; museum educator Julia Brashares; and others. (27 minutes)

Magic of the Image: Photography Revealed

ARTE France

This elegant program artistically unfolds the history of photography, including the contributions of Joseph Niepce, Louis Daguerre, Fox Talbot, and the Lumieres, with an emphasis on the processes involved in creating photographs. The chemistry of modern film development is described in detail, using computer imaging to illustrate the mechanics of the exposure and development processes. In addition, the recently rediscovered Niepce process is demonstrated for the first time on film, along with the daguerreotype process. (27 minutes)

The Pencil of Nature

HTV

The wonderful invention of Daguerre and Fox Talbot fascinated the Victorians as a new art form and a new way of looking at the world. This program follows the technical and esthetic strides made by the early, often amateur, practitioners. Material is drawn from the British Royal Archives at Windsor Castle; The Royal Institution of South Wales, Swansea; from the early photographlc societies; The Royal Photographic Society of Great Britain, Bath; Norwich Photographic Society; and from the first museum to embrace the new medium, The Victoria and Albert Museum, London. (26 minutes)

Domestic Memories

HTV

This program is about how people reflect their own reality, both in the formal photographs for which they pose and those which they themselves take. The amateur documentary tradition is seen through the eyes of two photographers from northern Britain, Jack Hulme and Jimmy Forsyth. Other collections featured are: The Kodak Collection; National Museum of Television, Film and Photography, Bradford; and the Documentary Photographic Archive, Manchester. (26 minutes)

The Real Thing

HTV

This program looks at the results achieved when photographers were commissioned to reflect the world or certain aspects of it. It focuses on the Farm Security Administration (whose archives are held by the Library of Congress, Washington) which set out to document America in the 1930s. The program also visits the Canadian Centre for Architecture, Montreal, where photography forms an integral part of the collection; Chris Killip, winner of the 1989 Cartier-Bresson Award, who was commissioned to make a photographic record of a new Pirelli Tire factory in Ohio; and Clement Cooper, seen photographing the area in industrial northern England where he grew up. (26 minutes)

The Magic Mirror

HTV

Using only the words of some of the great photographers, this program seeks to trace "the life-line of the species" (in the words of John Szarkowski of the Museum of Modern Art, New York). Selecting their own favorite photos from contemporary works back to 1839, the producers of this program trace the lineage of photography as art and present a glorious parade of great photographs drawn from the great museum collections of the world: the Musee d'Orsay, Paris; the Museum of Modern Art and the Metropolitan Museum, New York; The J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles; The Victoria and Albert Museum, London; and the Royal Photographic Society of Great Britain, Bath. (26 minutes)

White House PR Strategy: Reality Show President

The Reason Foundation

In this short film, Bagnewsnotes publisher Michael Shaw explains how the Obama administration distributes its own imagery while often preventing the independent media from getting the same access as White House staff photographers. Strategically composed photos, taken by official White House photographers, travel from social media sites that are controlled by the administration to the front pages of newspapers around the world. "The White House has effectively become a broadcast company," says Shaw. A Reason TV production.

Celebrations: How to Take Stunning Photos

Carlton International Media

When it comes to weddings, what's the best way to photograph a bride? How do you get the best shots of the first dance? Capturing the special moments of the big day is a stressful job even for professional photographers. What about when you don't even know what an f-stop is? How would you cope when asked to shoot a really large event? In this program, award-winning wedding photographer Emily Quinton shares her tricks of the trade, putting two eager amateurs through a crash course at one of Britain's top wedding venues. Topics include diffusing a harsh flash, using a bounce card, backlighting a subject, experimenting with focus, and more. Part of the series How to Take Stunning Photos. (23 minutes)

Dorothea Lange: Grab a Hunk of Lightning

PBS

More than four decades of 20th-century America are filtered through Lange’s life and lens—her creations and achievements, her tragedies and losses. Known for her powerful images from the Great Depression, her haunting "Migrant Mother" remains emblematic of that period. In 1936, when photographs of the poverty-stricken mother of seven, stranded in a camp in California, were published, a national awareness began. As America matured into a world power, Lange continued to bear witness—mass migration, increasing urbanization and the cost of war at home—bringing subjects alive, transmitting raw emotions and capturing the human condition. This film is made by Dyanna Taylor, Lange’s granddaughter, who began her artistic vision, literally, at Lange’s feet.

Mapplethorpe: Look At The Pictures

HBO

In 1989, on the floor of Congress, Senator Jesse Helms implored America to “Look at the pictures,” while denouncing the controversial art of Robert Mapplethorpe, whose photographs pushed social boundaries with their frank depictions of nudity, sexuality and fetishism – and ignited a culture war that rages to this day. More than 25 years later, the HBO Documentary Films presentation Mapplethorpe: Look at the Pictures does just that, taking an unflinching, unprecedented look at Mapplethorpe’s most provocative work. From acclaimed filmmakers Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato (Inside Deep Throat; HBO’s Wishful Drinking and The Eyes of Tammy Faye), and produced by Katharina Otto-Bernstein (Absolute Wilson), the film is the first feature-length documentary about the artist since his death from AIDS in 1989 (at age 42), and is the most comprehensive film on Mapplethorpe ever made. The film goes inside preparations for two landmark Mapplethorpe retrospectives, at The J. Paul Getty Museum and The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), utilizing the exhibitions as a jumping-off point to tell the complete story of Mapplethorpe’s life and work, and to explore the interplay between his personal and professional lives. A fresh, fascinating and candid look at an iconic and divisive figure, Mapplethorpe: Look at the Pictures shines a light on a controversial artist who helped turn contemporary photography into a fine art. An HBO Production.

Through Women's Lenses

ARTE France

This visual documentary combines contemporary and historical perspectives. Viewers will find themselves wanting to delve into coffee-table books or take a trip to a museum. Ask people to name five photographers, from past or present, and chances are that few will think to name a woman. Highlighting Julia Margaret Cameron, Claude Cahun, Dorthea Lange, Lisette Model, Vivian Maier, Christine Spengler, and Nan Goldin—and featuring images from many more female photographers—this film looks at invaluable contributions that women have made to the art form. With photography currently in vogue, it is a fitting time to dedicate a film to women photographers and to set the record straight on their little-known talents.