Selected Treecuts (1980)

"Selected Treecuts" is a film that explores the differences between real camera footage and computer-generated images. It uses a simple technique: a camera slowly zooms in and out on trees, switching between the live shot and a version stored digitally. This happens by using a rotating prism with an automated zoom lens. The difference between the natural, filmed trees and the still, digital images raises questions about movement and stillness, nature versus technology. As the film moves from the photographic to the electronic, it prompts viewers to consider what is real and how we represent reality in a world that's becoming more digital.