P3D Beginners OK, how about advanced?

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

The discussion about projector adjustments (needed or not) is more
general than stereo club competitions.  I am talking about a general
philosophy of stereo projection.  What is better?  Adjust the
projector between slides for every minor misalignment, or don't
touch anything once the show has started?

I am a firm believer of the no-touch philosophy for all occassions.
These adjustments will cause more harm than good.

During a recent PSA convention, the projectionist, clearly a graduate
of the "let's adjust every single slide" school of thought (hmmm...
I wonder where he was trained?...) insisted in overadjusting the
projector during the "PSA Image of the Year" contest.  Now this is not
just a little local stereo club... These are the images that have
won top honors during the past year.  I assume that most makers are
advanced photographers and masters of the "fine art" of "accurate
stereo projection".  Where these adjustments necessary?  Why? 

This was bad.  But it was even worse to see the judges score while
the image was *still* totally blurred and misadjusted (mostly as a
result of needless adjustment of the previous slide...)

It really reached my limits of tolerance (and they are very broad)...
I was wondering about the future of stereo photography... Surely it is
going to die if that's the best we have to show to newcomers.

-- George Themelis


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