Re: PSSP Meeting summary - comment on age/gender

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

Thanks for the report Adam!

>Being 22 
>years old, I knew I was going to be a minority in this hobby since most 
>of the equipment still in use was manufactured in the 50s and not much 
>good new stuff has come out since then.....  Seeing a much younger 
>woman who from what I could tell, may actually know what a computer 
>was, I approached her, and sure enough it was Brenda Nowlan, new P3D 
>member.

Well, Adam and Brenda, welcome to stereo kindergarten!!!  :-) :-) :-)

Let me make a quick comment on Adam's explanation of the mature age
of stereo photographers.  IMO, this has nothing to do with using
50s equipment.  If you take a survey in your club, you will find
that most people got into stereo in the 70s, 80s, and 90s, long 
after the Stereo Realist officially closed its doors (1972).

I also don't think that the average age of stereo club membership
is any higher than the average age of a photography club.  There 
are regular photography clubs in the Cleveland area that have some 
REALLY old members... My observation is that the average age of
the PSA (Photographic Society of America) membership is rather high.

Why is this so?  Because it takes a certain maturity and certain
income to "play" with cameras and film.  Some people get serious
about photography only after they retire...

I got my first SLR camera when I was 26 years old.  I got into
stereo at the age of 29 while I was still a graduate student.
If it wasn't for the $100 Realist, I would have not been able
to afford a stereo camera... Back then I did not have time or
money... Now, at a more mature age, I have both!!!  :-) :-) :-)

Getting younger men interested in stereo is a challenge... 
They seem to be more interested in fast cars, good-looking women 
and sports... I had more luck getting women interested in stereo.
Older men, on the other hand, have lost interest in some of these 
pleasures of life and are more patient and receptive to stereo 
photography.

Another "misconception" is that there are proportionally more
men into stereo than women, compared to flat photography.
This is also not true, IMO... Actually, some of the most active
stereo photographers in PSA are women (witness Pauline Sweezey,
the current PRESIDENT of PSA and active stereo photographer).

About the only connection with gender and age that I can detect
is that stereo card collectors are mostly older men (I know
we have some young card collectors here but, hey, there are
exceptions in every rule).  Also, quite a few women are 
interested in collecting View-Master (instead of stereo views).

These are just personal thoughts and observations... I am 
open to arguments from the other side or comments/thoughts...

George Themelis


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