The Simple Lens

Year Published: 1976

Creator: Jim Veilleux

Description: Dating to 1976, "The Simple Lens" was created by director/producer/cinematographer Jim Veilleux. The film elegantly presents a discussion on lenses and light. It explains that light, though invisible, can make objects visible through reflection. The film describes how a laser beam becomes visible when reflected by a white card or smoke particles, and how these particles reflect the laser light, making the beam visible. It then explains how the human eye captures and organizes light to form images, comparing this process to how a camera works. The film delves into the workings of a camera lens, the concept of refraction, and how glass and prisms change the direction of light. It describes how lenses focus light rays to a single point, the concept of focal length, and how lenses form sharp images from different distances. It also discusses how cameras capture and record images on film, and how movie cameras produce moving images by rapidly exposing film. Finally, it compares the human eye to a camera, highlighting its ability to capture and interpret images, and concludes with music, emphasizing the importance of images in understanding ourselves.


00:00: Introduction as sun pierces clouds .

0:54: Movie camera crew sets up a Panavision motion picture camera. Explanation of light as an invisible form of energy that can make things visible through reflection.

0:54: Demonstration of how a laser beam becomes visible when reflected by a white card or smoke particles.

1:17 - 2:00: Discussion on how smoke particles reflect laser light, making the beam visible.

2:00 - 2:40: Explanation of how the human eye captures and organizes light to form images.

2:53: A man takes an instant photo with a Polaroid Land Camera of a snow covered cabin. Comparison of the human eye and a camera in capturing light and forming images.

3:04: The Panavision 35mm camera is loaded with a film magazine, lens attached, and a matte box added. Detailed explanation of how a camera lens works to focus light and form images.

3:35: Demonstration of the concept of refraction with prisms and how light changes direction when passing through different substances.

5:06: Explanation of how glass can refract light and the role of prisms in changing the direction of light.

5:06: Description of how lenses focus light rays to a single point and the concept of focal length.

5:30: Pyramid shaped prism splits light into three rays. 6:06 : Demonstration of focal point, and how lenses focus light from different distances to form sharp images.

7:32: Explanation of how lenses organize light to form complex images by focusing light from each part of an object.

9:00: Panavision camera is focused. Discussion on how still and movie cameras capture and record images on film.

9:00: Explanation of how movie cameras work to produce moving images by rapidly exposing film. 9:36: camera mechanism shown.

10:02:Action on a tv or movie set, as a slate or clapperboard claps shut, and the Panavision camera is used to film a police car moving at high speed. 10:28: A film editor looks at the exposed film in an editing bay. 10:45: A Moviola is used by the editor to examine the footage. 11:22: Plastic model of an eyeball. Comparison of the human eye to a camera, highlighting the eye's ability to capture and interpret images.

11:03 - 11:58: Conclusion with music, emphasizing the importance of images in understanding ourselves.

Note: director James "Jim" W. Veilleux was the visual effects co-supervisor on Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (with Ken Ralston), while working for Industrial Light & Magic (ILM).

Online Copy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bGSZ2Yl_P4

Metadata Source:YouTube