This is an edition of a series of microphotographic studies called Hidden
Beauties of Nature, photographed by the famous scientist and microscope expert,
E.J. Spitta. In this film, we see individual pond creatures in great detail, as
well as the circulation of blood in the tail of a tadpole and the circulation of
plasma in pond weed. The intertitles are in German, from which we can infer that
the film was exported widely - this particular print came from Switzerland. The
images are of very high quality and, apart from the naming of the creatures in
each shot, there is no further attempt by the filmmaker to intervene. Indeed it
would be quite unnecessary, since the pictures are entirely fascinating in their
own right and have lost none of their power to astound and
educate.
Bryony Dixon
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