National Geographic created a stunning documentary a few years back called Extraordinary Animals in the Womb — but this is the first I’ve heard of it.

What really caught my attention are the scenes the filmmakers managed to put together using new advances in scanning and imaging technology. The footage is actually a combination of digital photography, scans, and computer-generated models — but the work is so seamless that it’s very hard to tell what’s real and what isn’t.

“There is no intention to deceive, and we are clear about just how far our cameras can go,” said the show’s producer Peter Chinn. “But the picture we’ve been able to build up goes further than my wildest dreams.”

It’s worth noting that none of the animals — or their embryos — were harmed during the filming. Whatever could not be captured in great detail using scanning cameras was meticulously rendered to represent what a close-up would look like on the inside. Check out some incredible pictures from the doc below:

Categories: Animals, Film/TV.
Photo: National Geographic

About Michael dEstries

Michael has been blogging since 2005 on issues such as sustainability, renewable energy, philanthropy, and healthy living. He regularly contributes to a slew of publications, as well as consulting with companies looking to make an impact using the web and social media. He lives in Ithaca, NY with his family on an apple farm.

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