P3D Re: Barriers again

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

>I think the average person, the average photographer, the average beginner
>would have absolutely no problems understanding what a Stereo Realist is,
>how it works and how to use it. 

Look:  I grew up in Athens where to change a light bulb you called the
"electrician".  There was absolutely no "do-it-yourself".  I was never
into cameras or photography.  When I saw a Stereo Realist for the first
time, it took me a few minutes fiddling with the controls to realize how
the camera works.  At the same time I was reading about the sunny 16 rule.
Right away I went to Greece where I shot a dozen or so rolls with no light
meter and got perfect exposures.  To mount the chips I got some slip-in
mounts but quickly progressed to aluminum EMDE mounts.  I'd like to think
I am an "average person" but being a nuclear physicist with an IQ of 165
might have something to do with it :-).

A guy at work is about as clever as I am, but has no inclination to
learn what aperture or shutter speed is.  He used a Realist for months
in his various trips with excellent results (minus a few dark pictures
here and there.)  Until he went to Texas to fly fighter planes... His 
pictures were slightly overexposed.  That's when I realized he was using 
his Realist with the controls fixed at f11, 1/100 and focused at infinity!
Did anyone say "point and shoot"?  Yeah, sure... the guy is no artist...
He shoots mostly in full sunlight, but, hey, he got a lot of mileage out
of that sunlight... He also refuses to figure out how to mount the slides.
And he is impatient.  So he is paying another guy at work to mount his
slides at $10/roll.  Now, this other guy is also using a Realist and no
light meter for years but has learned a few more exposure guidelines
and he takes great pictures.

I am not saying that the "Realist" is for everyone... but it is certainly 
for anyone who has the desire to use it.  Especially young people (mid
30s :-)) with energy and enthusiasm for photography.

George Themelis


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