P3D Re: Bugs in 3D

["David A. Tiede" <D.A.Tiede@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

The following is the reply from Mark and Marion Blum concerning
questions I asked about how the photographs in Bugs in 3D were taken.

Mark & Marion Blum wrote:
> 
> Hi David
> 
> Regarding your questions and some of the discussion on the mail lists:
> Bugs was primarily photographed with a variety of single lens, dual aperture
> cameras. Some have interchangeable lenses and aperture plates. One, also
> used to photograph much of Beneath the Sea in 3D, is the same design with
> the addition of reflex viewing and variable diopters to change the focusing
> distance. When the focusing distance is changed via an electronic signal,
> gearing also changes the aperture spacing to provide a proper stereo base. I
> displayed this camera at NSA 97.
> 
> How to get insects to sit still? PATIENCE!!!!!!!! Getting them to pose at
> "just the right spot"? I don't. Or put differently, the right spot is always
> where the flying insect lands. You must take them as they lie and adapt
> photographically. With fast subjects, the process can take hours and rolls
> of film. But sometimes fate intervenes and the subject is caught in a
> moment. That's exciting!
> 
> I don't use black background. It often results when there is nothing right
> behind the subject to reflect enough  strobe light to register on film
> through the extremely small apertures. All images are flash illuminated.
> 
> I use the term orthostereo in the loosest sense to mean an image that
> exhibits neither "squeeze" nor "stretch".
> 
> Please feel free to post any or all of this on Photo 3D. I regret that I
> don't have time to respond to many questions .
> 
> Regards, Mark


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