P3D Re: I saw the Future - Part II

[roberts@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (John W Roberts)]

>Date: Tue, 9 Feb 1999 04:10:50 -0700
>From: "Dr. George A. Themelis" <DrT-3d@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>Subject: P3D I saw the Future - Part II

>My predictions:  In 3-5 years from today the number of stereo view 
>makers will be equal to the number of stereo slide makers.  In 5 years 
>there will be more stereo card PSA exhibitions than slide exhibitions. 
>And in 10 years people just like Bill Walton today will be fighting 
>to promote stereo slides and save them from extinction.

>Now, why am I worried?   I am not worried that stereo prints are 
>gaining wider acceptance. I am worried that one day stereo slide 
>photography, the great treasure inherited from the 50s, might be 
>history... A collector's item, a curiosity.  Not a living and
>practicing form of stereoscopic imaging.

Which brings up another interesting point. We're talking about preserving
the ancient and beautiful art form of 1950's stereo slides, but at the
same time people are spoiling the authenticity of this heritage by
intruducing wider slide formats, and by using modern films with finer grain
and faster film speed. If we're expected to make an effort to preserve this
cultural treasure, the slide folks need to do their part by making sure
a fair percentage of the stereo slides made replicate what might have
been made back in the 50's - perhaps by using high-speed coarse-grain film,
and neutral density filters to permit the slow shutter speeds needed to get
motion-induced blur. If we're going to have an antique car race, let's not
put modern racing engines in all the Model T's. :-)

>And that's sad because stereo slides in a viewer offer a superior 
>visual experience.  Anyone who has seen a sharp Kodachrome in a 
>well-lit quality viewer can testify to this.  I hate to see this gem 
>go away... I hate to see a whole new generation growing up without 
>ever experiencing the well-made stereo slide.

Are there any significant number of stereo *slide* exhibitions in which
all the slides are viewed in viewers (as opposed to projection)?

What would you say to an existing card-only exhibition allowing a category
for slides, with the provision that the slides only be viewed using viewers?

John R


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