P3D Macro 3-D with One SLR (part 1)

["Andrea Blair" <asblair@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi all! My name is Andrea and I enjoy cameras, computers, and cats. I'm 
for world peace and recycling. Oooops, wrong speech! Anyhoo, I have been 
doing stereo photography with a single SLR for about three years now 
(and photography, in general, for about 20 years). Of course, I'm 
limited to non-moving subjects, and I have always enjoyed close-up/macro 
work, so I combined the two interests. I don't want to hog more than my 
share of the space in P3D, so I will do this in "installments." After my 
interest was posted, I had several requests for more information. For 
any editors, I will be puting together an article which will read better 
(this is rather "chopped") that you may print in your publication. 
Please contact me.

I use a Pentax SF-1 autofocus SLR (set to manual focus), a 100mm macro 
lens, tripod, and a dual macro focusing rail (goes both front-to-back 
and side-to-side). For lighting, I use one or two photo blue bulbs 
(daylight balanced) in reflector domes (you know, those silver things 
you put on a light stand). These come in 250 and 500 watt. I use 500 
watt for main and usually 250 watt for fill, if I use two lights. Most 
of the time I use one. When I need a little light kicked in, say, to 
light a bug or highlight the center of a flower, I use a penlight 
flashlight. I also have a nifty gizmo from the auto section that is a 
small flashlight on a long gooseneck with a small adjustable mirror by 
the light. This way I can also reflect light back from the hot lights 
(and trust me, they are called hot lights for a reason!). I also have 
halogen hot lights, but these are not daylight balanced and tend to make 
the photos warmer (slightly yellow), which I don't mind in most of my 
work, but it does not give true colors, if this is what you're looking 
for). For some work I also use a small light table. It all depends on 
the effect I am looking for. I use assorted hobby clamps, vases, etc. to 
hold my subjects. I work on a drop-leaf table, which gives me some 
flexibility when setting up and I have an old tri-fold metal hospital 
screen ($1 at a yard sale) to hold backgrounds. I just clip the 
backgrounds or diffusion material to the rails with clothespins).

That's the set-up. Next time I'll talk about getting stereo results. One 
thing you will find when I explain my "tools" is that I use a lot of 
common items found around the house. I am on a tight budget and I 
stretch my dollars when I can. I prefer to buy good equipment and 
cheaper "toys." I also do a camera club program on "Enjoying Photography 
on a Budget," which has been popular. Sorry if this didn't DIRECTLY 
relate enough to stereo for some people. If I throw in a few words like 
REALIST, View Master, RBT, will you be happy?!  {:>)

Later.

Andrea
asblair@xxxxxxxxxxx

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