Techno vs. photo

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

Rich Harris observes that 99% of the discussion here is technical and
wonders:

>would be possible for people to share opinions on more aesthetic matters
>relating to the 3-d photographic medium. Perhaps a description and
>discussion of some of your favorite pictures and why they are interesting
>or striking in 3-d but a total dud in 2-d.

In the past I have tried to comment on pictures and photographic 
techniques.  There are however a few problems when doing so:

** While nearly everyone has seen a Stereo Realist camera, very few people
have seen the picture I am commenting on.

** You am assuming that people actually take stereo pictures with the
cameras they talk about here, which might not be exactly true!!! ;) ;) ;)

Interesting photography threads have developed from time to time but I know
many people who, like yourself, started with good intentions and slowly
drifted to only technical discussions.  One person that comes in mind is
Eric Goldstein.  He used to sign "I only take pictures".  I don't remember
when was the last time he posted on a photography subject, now with all his
"tech-talk"!!! ;) ;) ;) (just kidding!)

>One thing that I believe from my limited experience is that the
>characteristics of a good 2-d shot are not necessarily the same as those
>for a good 3-d shot. There seems to be fewer "rules" -(not the best word)
>in 3-d photography than in 2-d. One primary example is a picture of a
>mountain with a bare tree in front of it that makes a horrible 2-d shot,
>but an interesting 3-d shot.

This sounds like a technical topic to me!  2d and 3d photography have their
own set of rules or recommendations.  In 2d you have to be aware of the
fact that stereopsis will not differentiate depth in the final picture and
compose your picture so that it is not confusing by utilizing other depth
cues.  In 3d you don't have this problem (witness recent assignment in
Stereo World, asking to submit pictures that look terribly confusing in 2d
but wonderful in 3d - "made for 3d!").  But in 3d you have other problems
that you don't have in 2d, like you cannot place an object too close to the
camera, must limit depth range, must have things in focus, etc.  Of course,
rules can be broken, but the general philosophy is different in 2d vs. 3d.

The above are generalities but that's all I can say without seeing specific
examples.  Go ahead Rich and ask more questions to shift the aneven
balance.  Many of us do enjoy taking pictures almost as much as using our
cameras or our computers!!!

Regards - George Themelis, "I take pictures too!"


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