Michael Jackson popularized the moonwalk, the white glove, amazing dance moves and fashion.  However, many people don’t realize Michael Jackson popularized video graphics innovations to the photographic world. I’m not really fond of watching music videos but his great productions made me sit up and take notice.

What makes Michael Jackson’s music videos unusual is his use of digital enhancement.  Graphics techniques commonplace today were new concepts for music videos.

A favorite of mine is the video of the song "Black or White" which reportedly cost millions to produce. The almost seamless morphing of the faces from all races from one to another made a lot of people sit up and say "wow."

Today we see this innovation in video games and video manipulation software. Facial recognition software used by the current popular shows like CSI, Bones and others is a crossover from Michael Jackson music videos.

I was always waiting for Michael Jackson’s newest hit so that I could watch his current videos. Watching his videos was an education in state of the art graphic techniques. Michael Jackson was a loss not only to the photographic arena but to the world.