P3D Stereo World - A citical view

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

I am reading the recent combined issue of Stereo World and I
conclude that 90% of its material is historical research on
stereo, of interest mainly to stereo collectors.  I am 
desperate searching for material of interest to the modern 
stereo photographer, and, frankly, I don't find much.

We know that NSA started as a stereo view collector's society.
And we thought that it advanced to being a Society for all
persons interested in stereo photography.  Stereo World 
has a subtitle that reads "The Magazine of 3-Dimensional
Imaging, Past & Present".  I am sorry but I really don't
see how is this "Present" is justified.

One example (only one):  In 24.5, pp 16-17, Editor John
Dennis reviews the book "Theodore Brown's Magic Pictures".
This is a book published in London by Stephen Herbert,
The Projection Book.  The connection of this book with
stereo is that Theodore Brown has done work in some fields 
of stereo back in late 19th, early 20th century and most 
of us know him from his own book "Stereoscopic Phenomena 
of Light & Sight", (re)published by Reel 3-D.

At the end of the review, we read of Alan Lewis' Freeviewer's
Assistant.  It comes as an afterthought, no pictures, no
real review, no mention of who Alan Lewis is.  Well, Alan
Lewis is one of the most important contemporary stereo-
photographers.  He is a dedicated stereo photographer who
photographs weddings in 3d, maintains an excellent web
page for many project ideas for contemporary stereo photo-
graphers and the inventor and creator of many innovative
stereo products for contemporary stereo photographers.

Alan Lewis should have been the subject of Dennis' article
and not an afterthought in a review of an obscure British
book about someone who lived 100 years ago and did something
related to stereo back then.  

You get my point?

I find it hard to believe that from all the stereo activities
taking place today all over the world, from all the subjects
of interest to stereo photographers TODAY, Stereo World's
focus (reflected in 90% of its published material) must
be on historical research and items for book/image collectors.

Don't get me wrong... I like NSA, I have a been a member since
I got into stereo in 1988, I have paid big $$$ to get all
past issues of Stereo World, I treasure the information in
them... but after I discovered PHOTO-3D and SELL-3D, I am
not looking as much forward to SW as I did in the past, mainly 
because I not a collector but a stereo photographer.

I would appreciate a counter view opinion by the many NSA 
officials in this list... like Bill C. Walton, NSA Chairman, 
Larry Moor, NSA President, Mary Ann Sell, NSA Vice President... 
(it would be nice if SW Editor John Dennis was in photo-3d too
but, to my knowledge, he is not, even though he has email).

I know some people will say that the editor depends on the
writers to give material to put in his/her publication.
If contemporary stereophotographers do not submit any material
then there will be no material to be published.  Agreed.  But
the editor is also the person who runs after people to submit
articles and who decides what the blend or balance is going
to be. The editor shapes the contents of the magazine.

So the bottom line is this:  Is NSA STILL primarily a society for
collectors or does it also represent contemporary stereography?  
If it does, to what percent?  And how is this reflected to its
official publication?

With all due respect -- George Themelis

PS. Please understand that the above comments is just an informal
reaction to my scanning over the latest combined issue of SW
and I hope it is viewed as a casual conversation, which is what 
it really is...


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