Elliot Swanson's NSA Competition Success

[P3D Bill C Walton <bill3dbw3d@xxxxxxxx>]

        I am not sure which Digest mentioned the competition at the 1995
NSA Atlanta Convention, where Elliott Swanson won lst place in Salon D. 
I was the Competitive Exhibits Chairman at Atlanta so I have a little
first hand knowledge of the event.  The slide competition wasn't  your
"Saturday afternoon camera club competition."  Several " heavy hitters"
from PSA entered this event, including Alan Grifin, of Australia, and
Stan White, from Canada.  The judges labored long and hard to pick a
winner and it turned out to be Elliott Swanson's " Rebecca".  
        The 1995  NSA slide competition was the first time since 1988
that NSA had an event for slides.  I won the 1988 competition in
Cincinnati with a slide from my first roll of transparencies.  But as I
recall, there were only 8 slides entered in Cincinnati so there wasn't
much competition.  I took my first stereo slide in 1987 after I bought a
TDC 716 projector for $5.00 at a yard sale.  I do not shoot many stereo
slides, enough to participate in a SSA Transparency folio, so I can see
Paul Wing's masterpieces, and to enter an occasional PSA Exhibition.  
        I am a stereo card (prints if you prefer) maker and that is my
main stereo interest.  Someone (George Themelis I believe) mentioned that
PSA is more than exhibitions.  I second that very loudly.  PSA finally
recognized stereo cards as a means of stereographic expression in 1993
and we have a small, but active Stereo Card Circuit that operates within
the PSA.  Any PSA member who would like to participate in this group can
contact me at bill3dbw3d@xxxxxxxx for info.  This Stereo Card Circuit is
not competitive, but is for exchange of ideas and learning.  There are
some superb images being produced by this group.  In fact Stan White
makes the best stereo cards I have ever seen.   
        PSA is having a stereo card division in their 1997 International
Exhibition.  "One Giant Step for PSA and also one Giant Step for Stereo
Card Enthusiasts.       
        I know of at least four stereo card enthusiasts/makers among the
photo-3d group and there may be more.  I would hope that some of them put
forth some of their ideas and questions on P3d
        To the guy who is running APEC.  You should really call it APEC
III.  The idea was tried in the 1860s, as you wrote.  But it was also
tried again in the 1970s and some of the folks who were in it then are
now in the SSA.  The first two attempts didn't last because, according to
those who participated in the 2d, it became a chore to make so many
stereo cards every quarter.  And I remember one guy telling me about
getting behind in the exchange and the difficulty of playing catch-up.  I
wish you all the success in the world as I welcome any increase in stereo
card activity, but I thought you might like to know about the 1970s
effort.


------------------------------