PBS : The Photographic Vision Series

[mark-b]

I remember back in the early 1980's, there was this series on the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) or was it the Corporation for Public Broadcasting? It was shown in conjunction with KCET channel 28 in the West Coast of the U.S. For me, it was the most influential series on art and photography that I have ever had the good fortune of watching. The series had the great masters like Ansel Adams, and Gary Winogrand just to name a few. Beautifully done, with a lovely musical score, I watched it regularly; even the reruns.

If only that series would be available in DVD or Blu-ray, I would definitely pick one up. It's definitely not in PBS' catalog or website. Wherever it is, I'm sure it's on videotape, and if PBS is reading this, please bring it out again!

 

[WDPictures]

I wish they would put more like this on Netflix. I search there every once in a while hoping they have something new/interesting. I wouldn't recommend an older (I think?) series called "Masters of Photography: ...". They are only 30 minutes each and the one I rented was so bad I didn't bother with the others.

 

[RayPA]

It looks like it was probably part of a tele-course (twenty 30-minute episodes). It's available for purchase on VHS for $40. Google "The Photographic Vision: A Visual Heritage"

 

[mark-b]

i searched google, and i'm sad to report that the vhs tape is no longer being offered 🙁

 

[JohnTF]

Eadweard Muybridge and Doc. Edgerton of MIT were featured in a classic video, The Invisible World, -- lots of photography and Doc. with his trusty Graflex in his lab where he made the first strobes.

Lots of very good stuff, many sources which will probably allow the copyright to lapse, so I have my VHS-DVD machine to salvage some to new media, but have not gotten too far.

Lots will simply die.

One of the local libraries has a terrific video collection, and so must many others, would recommend you search them out, and share your finds. ;-)

I bought a transcript of the Charlie Rose - HCB interview, and now it seems to be in public domain, if someone wants a copy, let me know. I think it is a word document.

Regards, John

 

[Pablito]

another great pbs series:
AMERICAN PHOTOGRAPHY:
A CENTURY OF IMAGES
but it seems they no longer sell the tapes...

 

[RayPA]

i searched google, and i'm sad to report that the vhs tape is no longer being offered 🙁

You're not a very good searcher/googler 😛
I followed the process at the link below right through to credit card. Looks like it's available to me:
Note: this includes two programs INCLUDING the one you're looking for.
http://www.actmedia.org/productDetails.do?no=C17-2

/

 

[JohnTF]

another great pbs series:
AMERICAN PHOTOGRAPHY:
A CENTURY OF IMAGES
but it seems they no longer sell the tapes...

Perhaps, as in the music on lp's, a lot of video will be left to die on tape. I recall several particularly good 16mm films that never got transferred to VHS and certainly not to DVD. I am hoping the copyright allows some of the better stuff to be saved, if not for commercial sales, then for libraries.

Regards, John