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Fascinating documentary produced by Penn & Teller about a fellow who thinks he figured out an optical system Vermeer (17th century Dutch painter) used to make paintings that look like photographs.

Experts have long suspected that Vermeer used something like a camera obscura (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camera_obscura) but Tim found that it wasn't possible to just paint over a projected image. What he did come up with was simple and brilliant.

The most impressive thing of all is he decided to replicate a Vermeer painting by painting it himself exactly the way he thinks Vermeer did it, and he's not a painter.

Highly recommended. 89% & 86% on Rotten Tomatoes: https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/tims_vermeer_2014/

You can rent it on Amazon and iTunes, or Netflix DVD.

Man, I havent talked with Tim in years. He also has an amazing classic arcade cabinet collection. Hooked me up with a Time Pilot cabinet years ago. Really nice guy.


*Edit: Realized the lack of context.

Tim is the founder for Newtek. I lived in Mexico when that product appeared and was a huge fan of it. Bought the second Toaster that came to Mexico City back in 91 I think it was. I had previously owned other Newtek digitizers for the Amiga so was a fan of the products in general. I met Tim at a NAB show in 96 or so and we started talking about general shit (I was fanboying at him basically) and I mentioned my MAME cabinet project and he was interested since he collected original arcade cabinets. We maintained contact for a few years after that every so often talking about old games and shit. Never knew about this particular project of his, but the guy is a damn genius, so cant say I am surprised.

Let me also say this isn't a dry documentary. Tim himself is rather humorous, and Teller did a brilliant job directing. It's really good.

Good interview with Teller here:

FlyingPenguin wrote:Let me also say this isn't a dry documentary. Tim himself is rather humorous, and Teller did a brilliant job directing. It's really good.

Good interview with Teller here:

OMG! He speaks!! LOL