"Captured" DVD by James Clark
Suggested Retail USD$34.95
Available from your favorite dealer
In a Blink: 6 Out of 10

"Captured", a DVD by James Clark, is a wonderful idea that, unfortunately, is based on something too far past its prime to be all that practical.

That's a shame, really, because "Captured" is good, it's very good. It's also eerie and different. That's a heckuva combination right there.

"Captured" begins with a a spectator selecting a card, holding on to it. The performer brings out a Polaroid camera and takes a picture of the spectator, giving the undeveloped photo to the spectator. As the spectator concentrates on their card, an image of the card is seen to develop in the photo in a particularly ghost-like image.

Now, I have to admit to not doing "Captured", but I've done things like it and that ghostly image of a selected card (or what-have-you; it can be almost anything you want) comes into view, spectators jaws hit the floor with a resounding "thud". The method used in "Captured" is as good and easy as you could ask for, requiring only a few minutes of work to put together. Sure, it has it's problems (one of the biggest is that only a single ghostly image can be produced per film pack -- multiple pictures can be taken but the image remains the same throughout), but by and large it's a clever idea and one anyone could get a lot of mileage from.

But it's old technology now. It has had its day. The necessary camera and film packs are getting harder and harder to find, and Polaroid has ceased manufacturing all but a couple of models, which will likely disappear soon. And the method cannot be used with anything but the Polaroid camera.

Meanwhile, there are methods out there for pulling off this type of thing with digital cameras and cell phones which, I'd have to say, are going to be with us far longer than Polaroids will.

Clark sets the premise up in the ad copy: "In this day of digital photography where software can be used to alter images in an instant, 'Captured' uses classic technology to bring a person's thoughts to life on film, right in front of their face." To a certain extent he's correct. And if you managed to get your hands on a Polaroid camera and the film packs, then this is the perfect way of selling this and it'll be a huge hit for you. Yes, it's just that good.

The problem is that you better act fast. This is one effect that has a short life-span.

"Captured" DVD by James Clark
In a Blink: 6 Out of 10

Material: 5
The idea is a grand one, clever and different and multi-purpose. It's also just too dated. Granted, Clark's presentational points are right on the money about how the image on a Polaroid can't be altered and all of that, but with these cameras going the way of the dodo and the passenger pigeon, they are going to be all but antiques way too soon...

Practicality: 3
... And that leads to the practicality issues, which begins with you trying to locate the camera and the film. Then, if found, you'll need to carry them around with you. One "image" per pack of film pretty much makes repeating this one impossible. All in all, this is one for formal shows and one-offs.

Quality of Production: 7
The disc is well done, with only a few glitches here and there (usually with lighting). No serious issues to cause any problems learning the material.

Quality of Instruction: 10
Clark does a fantastic job of teaching his work here. He's thorough, polished, and genial. A big thumbs-up here.

Presentation: 8
It's all in what you do with it, of course (and there's a lot that can be done), but the ghostly appearance Clark is able to generate is genuinely weird and striking.

Shane

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