P3D Value of Photographs both stereo & Mono

[bill3dbw3d@xxxxxxxx (Bill C Walton)]

There has been lots of discussion recently on the value 
of photographs, both planar & stereo.  I wonder if any of the
participants in this discussion have considered the "life" 
of color images.  I have seen different people mention
some faded 1950s slides which indicates that the life of this 
particular medium may not be long enough for most folks 
to worry about what institutions to donate them to .

Of course we won't know how long they will last since many of 
won't be around in another 60/70 years.  However we do know 
that black & white stereo cards have/will last, if properly processed 
and mounted.  The oldest card in my collection was made in July 
1862 and is still sharp and contrasty enough to use to illustrate 
a Stereo World article.  I know that everyone is not going to start
making BW stereo images, but I would suggest those that want 
their stereo images to last go to some other medium rather that 
Kodachrome, , maybe color separation into BW for later conversion..

That said it is up to the individual to find a repository for their
works/
collection that fits their style of stereography.  I believe it was
Michael
Kaplan who said a mused turned him down on his suggestion concerning 
collecting Viewmaster slides.  I wonder if he took the trouble to make a 
Viewmaster Reel showing that Museum and several other local attractions
and presented that along with his suggestion to start a VM collection??
When I thought about putting my stereographs/collection in the Archives 
at Columbus State University I took a handful of stereo cards of local
scenes
and people to show the Archivist what I was talking about.  He thought it

is a great idea and I believe that my images will be cared for and will
be 
available to those doing historical research on Columbus and it's 
environs.  Can I be 100% sure that they will be taken care of ?- Of
Course 
not, but at least I have a starting place.

DO NOT THROW AWAY OLD PLANAR PICTURES.  With today's technology
everything can be converted to "pretty good" stereo.  If anyone has seen
the book
3-D Museum they will realize the truth behind this statement.  On a
personal 
note I recently had our 1954 wedding picture (planar - BW) converted to a
"pretty
good" stereograph.  No it is not as good as if it had been made from a
stereo 
negative, but certainly viewable.  I recently acquired a box of family
photos from an 
elderly cousin.  Digging through it I found a picture of my
great-grandfather, who
died in 1881.  I can hardly wait until I learn the necessary technology
to be able 
to look at him in stereo.

This is considerably more that my two cents worth

BILL C WALTON
Bill3dbw3d@xxxxxxxx


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