640x480

The Original Digital Resolution

Shooting at 0.7 megapixels or 640 by 480, (the original screen resolution from the 1990s when personal computing proliferated), The Pretec DC-530 represents early engineering attempts at digitally transcoding photography. The camera’s unique blend of aperture sensor and data compression produce distinct photos, complete with vignette and digital noise that exudes a certain Walter Benjamin kind of aura.

Taking photographs with The Pretec DC-530 can best be described as alchemy. The camera’s not-so-good viewfinder, combined with its inferior lens and hardware make the photography experience much like that of a pinhole or Lomo: every shot is a surprise.

And What's better than a gif?

An interactive animation, but of course.

Jared The Jew always complicates things. Indeed, it would be too straight forward to simply take photos with a vintage 640×480 digital camera. Somewhere along the path, JTJ realized he could make his photos dance and thus began photographing all his subjects three or more times. This development transformed JTJ’s practice from photographer to filmmaker. With decades of photos, JTJ developed his very own software to play them all.

Introducing The Pixilation Player, the app to play 640×480 photos.

pix·il·a·tion (n.)

[piksəˈlāSHən]

a technique used in film whereby the movements of real people are made to appear like artificial animations.

You clicked an image above and played the pixilation player, yes?

No. Do you have any sense of adventure?

The Gallery

Over Twenty Years of 640×480

Jared The Jew’s catalogue of 640×480 photos spans over two decades and captures his adventures in China, Thailand, Europe, America, Australia, and Canada.