Computer images in competition

[P3D Derek Gee <73157.2172@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

All this recent talk about computer generated slides and computer
modified slides has made me want to tell you just a bit more about
this topic from the perspective of a former officer of the Detroit
Stereographic Society.  Currently, our club places no restrictions
on either of these type of slides, but I suspect this will not always
be the case.

The officers late last year received complaints from members who
felt that the competition was unfair.  The feeling of several
members was that the computer generated slides were
simply not photography - they are graphic design.  (I agree with
this.  There is little photography involved when you send your
images out to a service bureau to be made into slides.)  I can't
recall seeing any computer modified photos as slides, but I
do remember seeing one that was entered in our stereocard
competition.  None of the officers were quite sure if the
computer images fell within PSA guidelines (we are a PSA club)
and I believe that an examination is underway to determine if
we must modify our current practice.

George's interesting comment...
>Work with hyperstereos, twin SLRs, micro 3d,
>are just a few examples.  I have not heard any talk of disqualifying macro
>Realist slides or imaginative tabletop photography Stan White style. 
>Stan's images are as difficult to compare with regular 3d scenics as is 
>computer 3d work.

I suspect the reason nobody has talked about disqualifying Macro Realist
or tabletop slides is because they're STILL photography. They are carefully
thought out photos where the lighting, focus, and exposure are done by the
maker.  Computer work is a completely different animal.  There is a graphic
art aspect to Stan White's work, but in the end they are photos.

I enjoy seeing all these computer assisted slides, and as one
who owns a computer, I have used my computer to produce title
slides.  However, a majority of our members do not have access
to computer tools and I can understand why they feel that it
isn't fair for their slides to compete with the computer slides.
It's obvious to me that as computers and digital photography
grows that these photos will have to be separated from the
traditional photographs in competition, at least until the
tools are so common that everyone has access to them and knows
how to use them. 

                              Derek Gee


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