P3D Old timers debating society

[aifxtony@xxxxxxxxxxxxx (Tony Alderson)]

>>Tom Deering commented:
>>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."<<

>and Bob_Maxey replied (digest 2937):
>And I also do not believe that they sat around endlessly debating things
>like this either.<

Sure they did. Go look up the the exchanges between Wheatstone and
Brewster. Stereography, like photography in general, is a technological
art, and technical discussions are inevitable and pervasive.  P3D is not
exceptional in this regard.

>Certainly some probably did, granted. I still maintain that it is not that
>difficult to get great stereo with minimum effort and not worrying about
>the math.<

Well, that's true, and can't be overemphasized. Still, it never hurts to
understand what's going on, especially when one gets in a jam. Let's not
forget the reason we have stereo cameras that are "easy to use" is that
guys like Rochwhite were willing to worry about the math for us.  Besides,
the math in question is pretty simple. We're not talking quantum mechanics
here! We only need a rough estimate to start bracketing, after all. And
only because we don't have unlimited time and money.

>And Andrea Blair wrote:
>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.<

Gee, this doesn't sound random to me. Sounds like you've learned by
experience and analysis. Judging by Andrea's current article in
"Stereoscopy" she's thought a lot more about stereo theory than perhaps she
realizes.


Tony Alderson
aifxtony@xxxxxxxxxxxxx



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