More on computers in 3d competitions

[P3D Dr. George A. Themelis <fj834@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

A few more thoughts on computer-3d in stereo image competitions:

One concern is the situation where you have software so powerful that will
create computer 3d images that beat a good original 3d image with very
little input/effort from the user!  Imagine having a little 3d button that
will transform your 2d image to 3d with minimum fuss.  You can have 3d
photography from 2d images.  Is that OK?  

Is it fair that people with fast computers and expensive software can do
this work while those without such toys cannot?  One can ask the same
question for people with expensive 3d cameras... But a $100 Realist can
give you award-winning pictures... can a $100 computer allow you to do
award-winning image-manipulation work?  Also, cameras are exclusive
photography tools, computers are not.  Photographers are expected to invest
in better cameras, not faster computer... although this might be changing...

Another concern: One of the rules of competitions is that the image must be
the original work of the maker.  What if you start from some stock flat
image and create a 3d modified version of it?  Is this still your work? 
Boundaries are getting fuzzy.

Another concern:  Judges who are unfamiliar with computer work might not be
qualified to judge such work, especially if it has this foreign-ness
mentioned earlier that makes it difficult to associate/compare with the
work they do are are familiar with.

-- George Themelis


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