P3D SI - splitting headache

[boris@xxxxxxxxxxxx (Boris Starosta)]

Friends on photo-3d maillist, Ron Labbe, David Klutho, and (soon) editors at SI:

As a self proclaimed "new evangelist" for stereoscopic imaging and 3d
publishing, I must say that the new 3d swimsuit issue has given ME a
splitting headache!

Over the course of the next few days, I will provide you with a critical
review of the issue, page by page, image by image.  There is much to
commend in the 3d, but I'm afraid some of it will reinforce current and
historic negative stereotypes of the medium.

I haven't even looked that carefully yet, or read the editorial that
carefully, but one big bad thing has jumped out at me already (pardon the
pun).

On the last page of the 3d section (p. 120), the text of the review article
contains this statement:

"Movie patrons paid an extra dime for polarized cardbooard 3-d spectacles
that caused a spectacle and often a splitting headache."

then to add insult to injury, similar text is called out in large (18 to
24pt.) red text in a break in the body of the article.

"In the 50s, 3-d movie glasses caused a spectacle and often a splitting
headache."

AAaargh!!!  Ron, how could you have let them slip this in - much less yell
it out in big text!?

I know I am preaching to the converted here, but this is too important!  It
bears repeating even to this august audience: 3-d glasses DO NOT CAUSE
headaches.  3-D GLASSES do not cause HEADACHES. They have never caused
headaches.  It is NOT the GLASSES that cause the headache.

To the extend that 3-d causes any headaches, it is a factor usually of
technical problems in the presentation - misaligned or rotated images - and
sometimes compositional problems - too much disparity or depth.

Fortunately we are mostly spared these problems in the SI 3d section.  It
seems incredible to me that SI would publish a statement that says, in
effect, "we published this knowing full well it might give you a headache."

Give me a break, and stay tuned.

Boris

- Science is the part of culture that rubs against the world.
-
-                                     Stanislaw Lem, _His Master's Voice_

Boris Starosta                        boris@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Stereoscopic Art & 3-D Photography    http://www.starosta.com
usa - 804 979 3930                    http://www.starosta.com/3dshowcase