Re: The Slide Competitions

[P3D Dr. George A. Themelis <DrT-3d@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

>I, too entered the PSA 3-D slide salons for many years, but the experience
>was too frustrating.  [...] I found the whole experience to be pointless.  

Maybe a few years down the road I'll think like David, but right now
I see this as an interesting "game" that I like to play.  This is the 
nature of slide competitions judged in projection.  One difference
between PSA salons and a local stereo club, is that in the local club
you can be present during judging and see how your slides projected
compared to the "competition".  The PSA competitions become more 
meaningful once you participate either as a judge or by being present
during judging or by just attending the public showings that follow.

I am not sure if it's pointless, but it is definitely "dry", that's
why I would like to form a group to talk about it via email.  I would
like to discuss a variety of issues like what makes a good 3-d slide
in projection, tips on mounting, slide duplicating, risk of losing
our slides in the mail, etc.  These are topics that can be discussed 
in photo-3d too, but I would like to see a group interested in PSA 
slide competitions.  People outside photo-3d with access to email are 
also welcome to join.  Up to now we have 4 people signed up, none of 
which has an official PSA star.

>Much more rewarding is the Stereoscopic Society folios. 

They are certaily different... and yes they are rewarding, especially
since you get to see the work done by others and read some interesting
comments from time to time... but I do find it difficult to comment on 
every slide and some times I find little value on the comments written 
for my entries... but there are exceptions and these exceptions make 
the whole thing even more meaningful and rewarding...  For someone
not interested in slide projections, this is the way to go...

Obviously one can participate in both (PSA salons, postal circuits).

George Themelis

PSA = Photographic Society of America.  For amateur photographers.
      Has a Stereo Division which, among other activities, organizes 
      postal circuits.  You have to be a PSA member to join those 
      circults.  Different stereo clubs organize PSA salons (slide 
      competitions) that are approved by PSA but you don't have to be 
      a PSA member to participate.

SSA = Stereoscopic Society of America.  This is part of NSA, not to 
      be confused with the Stereoscopic Society in UK.  SSA runs
      different postal circuits for all kinds of stereo images.
      That's all it does. You have to be a member of NSA to join SSA.

NSA = National Stereoscopic Society.


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