Selected Experiments in 3D Stereo Photography
by Gary Molitor

The group of four images at the bottom are my first attempts at making stereographic photography without the use of a camera designed specifically for stereographic work. I taped two disposable cameras together, base to base with their lenses in the same horizontal plane. This method works fairly easily but variations in processing of the separate film strips causes some color and value problems.

The second group of three (starting with B &B) were taken using a Columbia Camera Company, Stereo Realist 3.5 "A" SN  in Washington DC in 1998. The Stereo Realist  produces two 25 mm by 25 mm slide by side picture on 35mm film. For web presentation, I scanned the slides with a Nikon Coolscan V-ED and edited then using Corel Photopaint.

I take a more sculptural approach to my photography than more traditional ("old-school") photographers. I see it as just another media for manipulation. Take the above "The Vice Presidents Office"; it was shot on a bright overcast day. the tops of the building washed out into a white nondescript sky. I did some transparent overlay to enhance the roof top and added contrast. Adding the blue sky and clouds made the building pop out a little more.I did some of the same manipulation to the "B & B Inn" to reveal some of the hidden detail inside the room and increased the contrast to allow the exterior scene to pop a little more. "Fountain" is pretty much seen as it was shot, except for a little more contrast. Of interest is, this shot was taken from inside a tour bus and some window reflection artifacts can be seen.

I have not used the Stereo Realist that much as the process requires the use of a light meter and a complicated nine (9) step process for taking pictures. This camera is antiquated in its use compared to point and shoot digital cameras. My original purpose for stereographic photography was to be able to photograph my ceramic sculpture.

The "2003 Utah" group of six were shot using a Minolta Dimage S304.
It is well known that stereoptic photographs require two photographs focused on the same spot of a scene but separated by a side to side distance of 2.5 inches. This distance is the average distance between the right and left human eye. I figured by using my digital camera I could take stereoscopic photographs just by taking two pictures of the same scene and switching from one eye to the other while taking the two pictures. Actually, this works quite well with a little alignment editing with a photo/paint program. The use of a tripod and a sliding camera mount would make editing this form of stereographic photography easier.

The fifth group of ten were taken using a Olympus Evolt E-300 using the same side by side process as used with the Minolta. I have owned two of the Dimage S304s. The first one drown when I fell while fishing in an Alaskan river and the second bought the farm when it fell off a work bench in my studio.  I have since bought a Mission3D "Photo3D" sliding camera mount, however, it requires the use of a tripod. For a staged photo this works very well but on a hike, I'm not about to lug a tripod around.

I bought the E300 for one reason. There is an adapter made that allows the use of Minolta MC & MD mount lens. I have a number of lenses from an old Minolta XD11 and would like to continue to use them for my photo work.

Art site of Gary Molitor: Bay Area Art History, California
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