Yes that is hydroponics. I don't believe the picture really tells much about the effort used in that system. It looks very doctored to me too. but hydroponics is not difficult. after getting a system up and running maintainance is pretty low.
I'm guessing that system is a deep water culture system. Probably the simplest system to work with.

Can you explain the "deep water" system versus the float system? I'm stumped by three things here. #1, the fairly clear container. I thought you had to guard the root system from light. #2, What kind of pots are these? Pete pots? Wouldn'gt they dissolve in constant solution? #3, the water line well below the pots instead of 1/4" of the pot bottom resting in the solution as in the float system. Did they start out with the solution at 1/4" above the pot bottoms and then readjust the depth as the roots grew through the pots?

Thanks. New kid on block w/lots of questions.

Connie