P3D Re: "shooter" Editor

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

Wolfgang Sell, Curator O.W. Holmes Stereoscopic Research Library:

>Mary Ann and I asked George to do this over a year ago with the full
>agreement/endorsement of John Dennis as we all saw the need. George 
>accepted the post but has yet to do any writing for Stereo World. 
>Complaints on Photo-3D don't count!

Let me clarify this "accepted" part.  There was a brief postal 
correspondence between myself and John Dennis regarding editing a new 
column in SW, an idea that was initiated from discussions between 
myself and Mary Ann Sell.  In my last letter to John Dennis (maybe 6 
months ago) I explained that due to my involvement with the stereo 
club in Cleveland I could not do that.  So, I declined the offer.

Editing a regular column in the largest stereo publication in the 
world is a serious commitment.   Nothing compared to editing a club 
newsletter.  Before accepting I wanted to make sure that this is 
something I could carry out successfully.  But I decided that putting 
my efforts into establishing a local stereo club in Cleveland was a 
higher priority for me.  (Looking back, I am really amazed seeing what 
we have achieved in this first year.  A considerable amount of work went 
from finding members to planning every single meeting and newsletter, 
month after month.  We now have 51 members and 71 subscribers and a 
positive balance in our account.   We are operating like a well-oiled 
machine, as if we have been in existence for years... and yet a year 
ago there was nothing.  This, IMO, is a tremendous accomplishment...)

You are telling me:  "Instead of complaining about Stereo World, why 
don't you help by writing articles on your subjects of interests?".  

Here is my reply:

1. I am not complaining!!! I brought this issue up for discussion as 
   a concerned member out of 5000.  My personal opinion should not carry 
   any more weight than those of the rest 4999.  Because I would like to 
   see more "shooter's" material in SW that does not mean that there is
   a general agreement, and, obviously there isn't.  Discussion and 
   exchange of ideas/opinions is what photo-3d is all about.

2. With my declared snapshooting approach to stereo photography and 
   the frequent use of empirical rules (sunny day rule vs., a well-
   calibrated light meter), no bracketing, care-free attitude, no rules, 
   no measurement... do you people really want me to edit this column?  
   Do I look like the person to lead thousands of photographers?   
   There are many more qualified individuals out there.  

3. Are we convinced that Stereo World is the magazine to put more 
   shooter's material?  Would we perhaps prefer to support another 
   existing organization/publication?  Or create a new publication?  

These issues are not resolved in my mind.  If I were convinced that my 
writing "shooter's" articles in SW is what needs to be done, I would 
be doing it.  But... I remain undecided...

-- George Themelis


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