Re: Not take 3-D Pictures????

[P3D Oliver Dean <3d-image@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Chuck Field wrote:
> I'll be going back to London, soon.  Last time there, I stood around and 
> fiddled with my Realist and got some nice shots.  This time, I'm considering 
> leaving it home.  I just have this horrible feeling that I'll regret it.  
> But it's true that you can pay far too much attention to your picture taking,
>  than the actual experience.  But then again, what if I see the PERFECT 
> "once in a lifetime" 3-d opportunity, and I don't have my camera with me?  
> AS you can see, I'm wavering (vascillating, waffling, etc.)  a bit in making 
> this decision.  
> I want this to be a relaxing vacation.
> I don't want to mess up a good photo op.
> What do the rest of you think I should do?

I always seem to have the best trade-off between enjoying a vacation
spot and photographing it by following a couple of important guidelines:

1.  NEVER go without your stereo camera!  You don't HAVE to use it if
the situation is inappropriate, but if the situation arises for a good
picture or even capturing a memory by a hand-held snapshot, your camera
is with you and ready.

2.  NEVER overload the schedule with too many places.  You can't get the
feel of a place in half a day, whether you are trying to "experience" it
or photograph it.  The type of tour that is characterized by "If it's
Tuesday, this must be Belgium!" is not the kind of tour you want to take
under ANY circumstances, whether for simple enjoyment or serious
photography.  Cut down on the number of places you want to visit and
plan to do justice to each of them.
  
3.  Plan to spend two or three days, at least, at each place you visit. 
You need to allow enough time to:
        a.  Get an idea of where things are that you want to see or
"experience";  a general tour is often a good way to do this, but don't
expect to get good photographic opportunities on such tours, unless the
tour spends a lot of time at each stop.
        b.  Wait for good weather, if necessary!
        c.  And here is the Best Kept Secret of travel photography:  First, you
visit the site at your liesure and maybe take a few record shots just in
case you can't get back or the weather changes.  This is when you take
your time to enjoy.  THEN, if a good picture suggests itself, note the
great camera viewpoints, note any preparations you need (such as hiring
a red or orange boat to be rowed out into a key spot on a lake or pond,
or bringing fill-in flash), note the time of day that would be best for
the effect you want, AND GO BACK AT THAT TIME!!  (Or go back on a day
when the weather is more suitable).  Going back until you are satisfied
results in a MUCH better picture, and keeps you from feeling the
pressure of HAVING to take pictures because you aren't coming back.  I
spent ten days at the 1986 Expo in Vancouver, and had time to enjoy
everything, as well as to photograph it thoroughly in stereo. 

To illustrate the advantage of going back for a picture: When I visited
Carmel in California, I stayed for a couple of days, and got a feel for
the photogenic sites on the 17-mile drive, including one site where
there was a beautiful cypress tree; unfortunately, when I visited it the
first time in the morning, an ugly cable supporting the tree was all too
apparent from all the best camera angles, and I resolved to return in
the late afternoon when the tree would be backlighted into a silhouette
against the ocean, perhaps hiding the cable.  The result was one of my
best photographs, taken against a setting sun with a few pink clouds
breaking up the pale blue sky.  It really pays to GO BACK!   
-- 
Oliver Dean -- 3d-image@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Dominguez Hills (near Los Angeles), Calloushernia, USA


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