P3D Mathphobia rationalized

["Andrea Blair" <asblair@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

>>>>Someone wrote: Say, here is a question for the group: If we were to 
interview all of the old timers that now take or have taken truly great 
stereo images, what percentage of them get out the slide rule and Math 
everything to death?<<<<

>>>>Tom Deering wrote: The "old timers that have taken great stereo" 
have already figured out the geometry for themselves!  It's not magic. 
They may have studied the math, or they may have taken hundreds of 
photos until they lucked into it. They certainly don't use random 
settings to get their "truly great images."<<<<

Well, Tom, since I'm not exactly an "Old Timer" (I'm only 34 and have 
only been doing stereo 4 years), and my images may not qualify as "great 
stereo," maybe I shouldn't respond to your statement. I haven't figured 
out the geometry. It is magic to me. I haven't studied the math. Nor 
have I taken hundreds of photos until I lucked into it. I DO use random 
settings!

I guess that kinda shoots holes in your "theory" of stereo 
photographers! Never stereotype a stereographer!

What I did do is listen intently at every stereo club meeting. Asked 
lots of questions. Listened to the responses. Read a couple of very thin 
books on stereo basics. Went shooting. Studied results. Did more 
shooting. Maybe a few dozen images were sacrificed in the learning 
process, but it certainly wasn't hundreds before I caught on to the gist 
of things. It's not that hard. It *shouldn't* be hard. It shouldn't even 
be *perceived* as being hard.

If you want to get very FEW stereo images, but every one of them to be 
precise, optically, and mathmatically correct, follow Tom's teachings. 
If you want to get good to better than average (and more) stereo images 
AND have fun while doing it, follow the advice of George Themelis, Bob 
Maxey, and many others we have seen here on P3D. Join a stereo club or 
an organization that supports stereo (PSA, NSA, ISU, SSA, etc.). Join 
study groups and circuits. Listen to the advice of others. And practice, 
practice, practice.

Humbly submitted (amongst the fire and brinmstone)

Andrea S. Blair
asblair@xxxxxxxxxxx

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