AllMovie

The Camera: Early Photography and Moving Pictures series tracks the development of photography as an art form. Volumes one through seven examine the evolution of the tool, while volumes eight through ten focus on the technological contributions leading to modern filmmaking. This volume features two segments. "The Brothers Lumiere" profiles the achievements of Auguste Lumiere and Louis Lumiere, the French twins who created the first 3-D film and constructed the first practical mobile film camera. Video highlights include the men's first shot from their crude wooden camera. The segment "George Melies," relates the story of the man who created the first docudrama. Melies is also known for originating special effect photography techniques, such as stop-framing and double exposure. Considered the original film wizard, Melies produced the first science fiction picture, A Trip to the Moon. Video highlights include a look at this film. An in-depth historical look at photography, these documentaries reflect the sense of wonder surrounding the emerging medium.