This documentary centers on one man's exploration of a new way of life and the development of new talents related to natural history and photography. Starting a new life in Colombia and learning to see the magnificent insects that populate the Neotropical rain forests, Oelman developed exceptional abilities as an insect photographer enabling him to share these wonders of nature with others, with the hope of providing an impetus for saving the natural habitats that are home to these creatures before they are destroyed. The film highlights Mr. Oelman's personal journey in finding a new way of life and a new career. The film is filled with exquisite and intriguing photographs of tropical insects.
9 Reviews
Ahead of it's time
theknownames21 July 2020
This documentary didn't blow my mind with some twisted tale. It did , however, nourish my soul. It felt so good to watch something that felt good for me. The pacing, the story, the bonds, the .... well it was done well, with care and it shows. It was the best kind of break from shows and movies and I love ants so while it wasn't about insects in the way I anticipated it was about a man learning to see the world and it opened up my eyes to take a look at the world all around me. I watched this yesterday and usually try to wait to see how a show sits with me before reviewing. I say 10 but by my own standards thaT would mean most anyone could sit down be riveted , but I would recommend this for family movie night - it has just enough of everything and so much if what I wasn't expecting
Exquisite world within a world
rainyday_sitter18 October 2017
'Learning to See' gives so many more reasons to love and preserve rain forests worldwide, as if we needed another. Visually stunning, emotionally compelling, and continuously thought-provoking, the film will surprise even avid followers of rain forest fauna. Hopefully, this will be one piece from which a critical mass of earthlings will be learning to see.
I just wanted to learn more about insects and that's not really the case after watching this.
deloudelouvain2 October 2020
After reading the other reviews I came to the conclusion that I must be the only one that wasn't that impressed by this documentary. I thought I was going to learn a lot of new things about insects and that documented by beautiful images. There is no doubt Robert Oelman is a brilliant photographer though. Very nice picture of to us unknown insects, he clearly knows how to use his macro-lens camera. For that it was worth watching, but I didn't like the story about why and how he became a photographer and so on, that's just not interesting material for people that want to learn more about insects. And that kind of footage is overly present in this documentary. It became more a documentary about Robert Oelman than about insects. A better title would have been Learning about macro-photography: The World Of Robert Oelman. Well that's only my opinion, and even if I still enjoyed the insect pictures, I just wished they only did that, with a nice narrating voice of David Attenborough for example, instead of explaining us how much money Robert Oelman paid for his finca and other futile uninteresting things like that. I would buy a book with his photos though, and probably enjoy it much more than this documentary.
Beautiful journey... A Must SEE
robertheskin28 October 2017
A wonderful journey of a man who wanted to change his life to then find himself on a beautiful journey of discovery for both Robert as well as all of mankind as he discovers the wonderful world of insects as well as himself. As we follow Robert and his son and filmmaker Jake Oleman... we discover as much about themselves as they do the little known world of insects. Amazing cinematography/photography and story telling...
Beautiful exploration into a world most people will never see or understand.
winddiva28 October 2017
Such a beautiful story and film. Filmmaker Jake Oelman creates a story you get lost in visually and emotionally. The importance of this film is epic as many people will never see the beauty of insects as Jake and Robert Oelman show us through Roberts awesome photography. I was lucky enough to see this film in its beginnings and look forward to watching it again and again when it comes out next year. (on Netflix etc.)
Becky Randall Creator of page "Go Ahead, BUG me" on Facebook.
Becky Randall Creator of page "Go Ahead, BUG me" on Facebook.
Learning to See What is.....just as it is....no matter what it is.
tara-5606431 October 2017
Learning to See is a film that I recommend every person to see if they want to experience the rapturous beauty of the most tiny of rain forest creatures. Learning to See will reveal to you how precious and interconnected all life is on earth. This magnificently photographed film is an inspiring personal transformation story that invites each of us to learn to see the Beauty in All that Is...no matter what it is. I saw it twice and will enjoy seeing it many more times.
Amazing awakening a passion discovered
marykt-573884 December 2020
Thank you Robert for allowing us to be a part of your amazing journey of self discovery. You have found your passion through pursuing life it self our world is surely alive and you have captured it so beautifully with your photography. I stumbled onto this gem your film about your incredible journey of self discovery and I was glad you shared. Breathtaking
How one burned out therapist moved to Colombia and discovered a new passion amongst the insects.
TxMike29 January 2019
I found this documentary on DVD at my public library. Picture and sound are excellent and the disc has several interesting "extras" including a slide show of perhaps 140 to 150 different exotic insects, many never documented before. On a large screen HDTV they look marvelous.
Robert Oelman was born and raised in the Midwest and became a therapist. He worked in that capacity for 20+ years until he decided he wanted out of that rat race, picked up and moved to Colombia. Apparently without a definite plan.
Oelman took an interest in the small world, particularly insects, many of them so small you'd never see them without a rigorous search. He bought a somewhat dilapidated homestead and hired a man and his family to live there and keep the place in order. Eventually the husband, Christian Lopez, became his photography assistant.
Oelman had to expand his knowledge and equipment for doing what is generally called macro photography, special lenses and flash for photographing things as small as a few millimeters. After he exhausted the subjects near his homestead he began to take trips to other South America locations.
The bottom line of all this is he has discovered and photographed perhaps hundreds, or maybe thousands, of previously undiscovered insects. He has added a wealth of knowledge to the subject. The documentary also includes many short comments from scholars who have benefitted from Oelman's exploits.
This is a very good documentary, it of course has some content regarding human industrial recklessness which destroys habitats and thus many species becoming extinct.
Robert Oelman was born and raised in the Midwest and became a therapist. He worked in that capacity for 20+ years until he decided he wanted out of that rat race, picked up and moved to Colombia. Apparently without a definite plan.
Oelman took an interest in the small world, particularly insects, many of them so small you'd never see them without a rigorous search. He bought a somewhat dilapidated homestead and hired a man and his family to live there and keep the place in order. Eventually the husband, Christian Lopez, became his photography assistant.
Oelman had to expand his knowledge and equipment for doing what is generally called macro photography, special lenses and flash for photographing things as small as a few millimeters. After he exhausted the subjects near his homestead he began to take trips to other South America locations.
The bottom line of all this is he has discovered and photographed perhaps hundreds, or maybe thousands, of previously undiscovered insects. He has added a wealth of knowledge to the subject. The documentary also includes many short comments from scholars who have benefitted from Oelman's exploits.
This is a very good documentary, it of course has some content regarding human industrial recklessness which destroys habitats and thus many species becoming extinct.
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