Stereoscopic Photography...the Science of Solid Viewing
Example Photographs
The following eight pairs of photographs illustrate the technical range of pictures suitable for this system. All of them are static pictures, no frozen motion. None are portraits of people. Yes - the system is capable of very fine posed portrait work; it is really that I am a poor portrait photographer. Mine tend to look like 'mug shots'.
These pictures are shown as pairs with the Left on the top and Right under it. To view them you will need a stereoscope. In which case print a pair out in a suitable size, cut it in half to separate the pair and view it.
The photographs were taken on positive Agfa RSX 100 ISO film. At first they were viewed only by stereoscopic projection then they were high resolution scanned and 5x7 inch prints made for stereoscope viewing. That is a left 5x7 inch print and a separate right 5x7 inch print. Of course a small amount gets cropped from each side in the process.
The photographs with the exception of the 'Glass Jar' and 'Orchids' were taken with a Contax camera pair - Zeiss 28 mm focal length lenses, 93 mm separation left to right. All the photos were taken in South Western BC. Canada.
The 'Glass Jar' close up at 0.5 metre was taken with a single Pentax 50 mm focal length on a traverse. The traverse separation was 60 mm, which is excessive for 0.5 m; it should have been 26 mm.
The 'Orchids' close up was taken with a digital Olympus 8080 on close up 25 mm from the subject on a traverse. The traverse separation was 10 mm which is correct for the angle of view and distance.
Garden 1. This shows a scene with a depth range from the close flowers through to the distant trees. The garden appears to be laid out before your eyes, just as it would be if you were there.
Garden 2. This shows a scene with a depth range from the gardens in the middle ground to the tree covered mountain in the far distance. The middle ground still has some stereoscopic effect whilst the mountain gains sharpness from the double image enhancement. The scene therefore looks solid and true.
Steveston boats. This shows the 'corridor' effect as you look down the gangway and along the dock. First the viewer is flanked by hand rails then the boats, but directly ahead is open. The scene seems to induce slight vertigo as you look down onto the floating dock.
Cox Beach This is not a truly static scene for the sea waves are moving - indeed they almost seem to move in this otherwise static picture. In the foreground are the rocks and sand with the sea in the middle ground and the rocky coast line with tall trees behind. The trees and minor rock cliffs are beyond stereoscopic distance but the double image enhancement effect gives them a solid 'I am there look'.
Robson Square . This city-scape looks over an ornamental pool which flows out over a waterfall by the sea gull. Notice how the swelling water of the pool has a strange 'frozen ice' look. The scene leads the viewer out over the waterfall and into space.
Crown Mountain . This scene looks across to Crown Mountain from Goat Ridge. Because of the double image enhancement Crown Mountain looks distant and clear yet the rocks in the foreground seem to be under your feet. Move forward a few metres and the viewer would drop into the abyss. This picture gives the viewer that stimulating feeling of 'safe insecurity'.
Radio Telescope. Machinery - how does it work? Well look this is clearly the end of an adjustable long base line radio receiving antenna. See the other sections far away on the railway track. By the way 3D is very good for steam railway locomotives. The big wheels and heavy connecting rods with Walschaert valve gear - almost erotic.
Glass Jar . This was taken by a single camera on a traverse. The 50 mm focal length camera was 0.5 metre from the subject which was lit by subdued daylight. I should have traversed 26 mm but by mistake I took it 60 mm., a gross error causing two unpleasant things to happen by way of retribution. One the subject comes right forward to hit me in the eye and the other, many people go cross eyed trying to see it.
Orchids. This was taken by a single digital camera on a traverse. The camera was set to close up for a 35 mm camera equivalent of 90 mm with 25 mm subject to camera body distance.
