P3D Landscapes in 3D

[fj834@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (Dr. George A. Themelis)]

I just did a quick calculation:  If you take a picture with a regular
stereo camera held straight from a height of 1.5 m (eyes), assuming
that the only thing in front is the ground, the closest point of
the ground at the picture will be at 4.5 m or around 15 ft.  If this
is the nearest object then the on film deviation will be only 0.6 mm.
In other words you lost "half the depth".

Where am I going with this?  I have seen great pictures with a regular
stereo camera used as described.  Example, a lovely fall day, the road
going down and trees with colored leaves.  The afternoon light and color
makes the picture.  How much depth is there?  Very little considering
that the ground is not even part of the picture...

If you measure the amount of depth of the most succesful landscape
stereo photography, recorded with regular stereo cameras, you will see
that most of it has very little depth.

Certain subjects, like sunsets, by nature do not lead themselves to
a good amount of depth.  It would not be a good idea to exclude sunsets
from our subjects of regular (fixed base, 70 mm) stereo photography.

George Themelis


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