P3D Re: Computer images in stereo competitions

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

Bill Walton wrote:
  
>There is going to be a lot of discussion in the PSA circles,in the not to
>distant future, about computer generated images in stereo competitions, I
>believe.  I am not sure what the answer is as the folks who do these
>images need a place to display them and the exhibitions always need more
>entries, but there is a strong feeling that computer generated images
>should be  either judged separately or have their own exhibitions.  Any
>one have a thought on this matter?.

This is good question.  Consider where it is asked.  What ALL photo-3d
subscribers have in common is a computer, not a stereo camera.  We all
have access to a computer to read and write these messages.  I suspect
the answer might be different if you ask this question in a group of
people that have never used a computer.

In response to this question, Greg Wageman wrote:

>I have nothing but respect for the talented individuals who can
>generate a competitive "computer-generated" [now there's a misnomer]
>image literally from nothing but their imagination and a few hundred
>thousand mouse-clicks.

There is no question that these individuals have talent.  The question
is, are the skills required to produce these images photographic skills?
This has always been the question.  We must define:  What is photography?
A good artist can paint or sketch or create sculptures.  But is that
photography?  Is photography and imaging the same things?  I have no
answers to these questions... just clarifying the issue.

Ron Fredrickson wrote:

>The contemporary award in the Lighthouse judging last 
>weekend was given to a computer-generated image, no part 
>of which was created by the maker--- only the manipulation 
>was done by that person in order to create a stereo slide.

And Harold Baize responded:

>I can't believe they gave an award to someone just for 
>rendering someone else's image in stereo. 

And I ask:  How did the judges know who and how was the image 
created?

One final thought:  Stereo photography is not that popular or
widespread.  There are many different subject that compete with
others and might be in disadvantage.  For example:  Nature,
portrtaits, photojournalism.  We cannot justify a separate
category for these images, just maybe special awards.  Same
applies for "contemporary".

-- George Themelis


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