[MF3D.FORUM:1079] Re: Skies and Clouds

["Dr. George A. Themelis" <drt-3d@xxxxxxx>]

> Mark Dottle (photo-3d) uses "film gels" to
> add blue color to washed out skies.  It works, though the realism is
> sometimes lacking because without the help of computer manipulation
> it is not practical to match the shape of the added color to the
> shape of the skyline.  George T co-wrote an article with Mark about
> the film gel technique, but I've forgotten where it was published.

Paul, thanks for bringing this up.

The article was published in PSA's  Journal (also, in the "Stereogram",
the newsletter of our club - Ohio Stereo Photographic Society).  Mark
is a faithful member, driving each month from Pittsburgh to Cleveland
and last year he won both first place in the slide competitions and also
slide of the year.

It has lectured and demonstrated his technique in one of our meetings
and, I tell ya, I was VERY impressed.  He has created some
masterpieces from semi-garbage.

Mark and his gels have been in my mind since I came back from
New York.  During the entire week of our stay there was nothing
but clouds, rain and overcast skies.  This did not stop me from
shooting but I have the ugliest skies recorded in recent history.

During a 5 hour Circle Line Tour of Manhattan, I took many nice
hyperstereos.  The skies are washed out and the density (exposure)
is light.  This makes them perfect candidates for gels.

Mark's technique can be summarized as follows:  He photographs
different colored gels and then he sandwiches the films with the
original slides.  Why not use the gels themselves instead of 
photographs of gels?  Because using the gels will make the slides
unsuitable for projection.  Also, photographing the gels gives him
more flexibility.  He can customize them by mixing different colors,
etc.  It is an excellent tool in capable hands... until Photoshop makes
it obsolete.

George Themelis