3D Meeting at MPLS!!!

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

Just came back (last night) from a brief family visit to the Minneapolis
area.  The highlight of the trip was the stereo meeting at Jonathan Gross'
house.  In attendance were:

- Jonathan Gross:  Host, photo-3d, Alpha SSA, computer guru, engineer 
                   extraordinaire
- Kevin Kavaney:   Mad psychiatrist, photo-3d, Beta SSA, newbie w/great 
                   potential
- Tom Martin:      photo-3d, world-renewed Tru-Vue collector, local 3d 
                   personality
- Martin Schub:    photo-3d, local NSA active member
- Bob Clark:       photo-3d, local Realist photographer
- Steve Trynoski:  Alpha SSA, world-class Realist stereo photographer
- John Moore:      Local NSA member
- Dr-T:            Needs no introduction ;)

We all had a wonderful night, thanks to the efforts of host Jonathan.
Good food, good company and, of course, good 3D!  

Jon demonstrated the computer NEOTEK 3d system, based on liquid crystal
glasses.  What I saw was more than enough to convince me to try it.  In
addition to displaying my favorite 3d images in the computer screen (in a
matter of minutes we had a few of my slides digitized and running) one of
the main applications of this system are in science and education, which
touches on my professional interest.  I will report more on that in a 
later posting after I have a chance to try it at home.

Jon also showed us a number of his innovative engineering projects which
include:
- a modification of the Realist heat-seal device (the one that nobody 
  knows how to use!) to heat-seal cardboard Realist slides.
- a modification of the Brackett 2x2 alignment gauge to accurately mount 
  Realist-format slides.
- a splendid twin SLR hyper-bar with two Nikons and an added device to 
  electronically synchronize them to 1/1000 sec!!!
- Custom modification of his TDC 116 to 600W halogen bulbs.

We all shared 3d stories and proudly showed our favorite stereo cameras. 
At an average price of $1000 per camera these included:
- Busch Verascope (Jon)
- Very Rare Realist 3.5 w/German lenses (Kevin)
- Absolutely mint Realist Custom (Tom)
- Belplasca (Dr.T; his excuse: "My Realist is being operated...")

We finished the night with a stereo projection.  We had the chance to see
some of Steve Trynoski's award-winning photography.  Steve is chronically
(work-related) busy and only the members of the Alpha SSA folio that they
can enjoy his work.  He is in SSA since 1980 and has been voted in first
place for many years in a row.  It was a pleasure seen these images in
projection (even though they were selected for viewing in a viewer).  We
also enjoyed great slides from Jon, Kevin, John, Bob and Dr. T.

Overall, we had a great time!  I hope that this starts a tradition of a
special meeting once a year w/Dr. T and more frequent meetings for the
local stereo members.

Reporting from Cleveland OH in a gloomy 1st of the year, George Themelis



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