What is stereoscopy and how to view
Our eyes see the world from two slightly different perspectives. Our brain merges them into a single image that allows spatial perception and determination of distances. The principle of a stereoscopy is to photograph two pictures for both of your eyes.
The classic way to view a stereo image pair is to use a stereoscope.
The profound impression of the stereoscopic effect is hard to grasp if never experienced. The spatial 3D aspect of an image lets you step inside the scene in a very intense and inspiring way.
Stereoscopy was there since the very early days of photography.
VR goggles are interactive stereoscopes that accept poor optical quality for the sake of being wearable. You can look around in a virtual space made from pixels.
Stereo photography viewed through a statik stereoscope won’t cause dizziness or headache.
The lenses will provide much better optics to study an image calmly. In a good stereo photograph many layers of spatial depth can be differentiated.
Stereoscopy means all the benefits of photography, enhanced with 3D
- framed composition, visual axes and determined light
- depth of field and bokeh
- physical prints on photographic paper
- much higher resolution and optical quality
- unique visual languages by different artists
Viewing stereoscopic image pairs through a stereoscope is the classic and most sublime way for 3D photography.
Two lenses will let you focus on close image pairs. Each side for one eye only. The two images will merge into a single one with spatial depth.
There are many different stereoscope types. Wikipedia article
Yes. There are even two ways to achieve this.
- The parallel view
You need to relax your eyes as if watching something far away. Then hold a stereo image pair in front of your eyes. Each of the images need to be seen with one eye. They will then merge into 3D.
Especially for short-sighted persons will like this technique when taking off their glasses.
- The cross eye view
This basically means squinting. The two pictures of your stereo pair need to be switched. You then need to focus with your right eye onto the image on the left and vice versa.
Please note that OCZKO STEREO publishes stereo pairs only in parallel mode.
Have a look at this Tutorial.
Here is another one.
Wiggle animations show the left and right images of a stereo pair in a fast sequence. This way a spatial effect will occure. You may share 3D wiggles on social media as no glasses are needed to view.
Have a look on this tutorial.
- The easiest way is to share stereo pairs with the two images next to each other.
There is a growing community of stereographers who know what to do with them. The spectator can view them as described above or use a small handheld stereoscope. - You may generate 3D wiggle animations, showing the left and right images in fast sequences.
- You may also try to generate depth maps from your stereo images. Once uploaded as interactive Facebook 3D photos, they can be moved by the motion of your mobile device or cursor.
How to shoot with a stereo pinhole camera
Yes, but there are still some rules to follow. The objects you capture should not be too close in front of the camera. Also the distance between the nearest and the farthest object in your frame should not exceed some recommended values.
The included stereoscopy handbook will explain you the basic rules of 3D photography but soon you will also achieve great results just based on your feeling.
Yes, but only still objects. Use the eyepatch to close one eye of the camera and make your exposure. Then move the camera sideways a little and make the second exposure. This way you can decrease the distance between the two eyes of the camera which makes it perfect for macros. The small pinhole aperture even makes things right in front of the camera appear in focus.
Yes, but same as with macros, you can photograph only still objects. Hyper stereos will show the world as miniature with an exaggerated 3D. You can achieve this interesting effect by extending the distance between the two pinholes. Even distant mountains can be rendered in 3D when you have the right interaxial distance and no foreground.
Yes, but there are limits. The aperture of your Minuta Stereo is f 1/140 which is quite slow compared to modern cameras. But if you use a fast film e.g. ISO 800 on a bright sunny day, the only thing that needs to be fast enough is your finger when opening and closing the shutter.
Yes. You can try out any medium format or 35 mm film. That means a lot of fun learning the differences between emulsions and specific characteristics of a bench of analogue films.
Yes. There is even a developing process to turn your film into beautiful black and white slides. Check if your film has a transparent base.
Of course! Like with normal negatives, you cannot see your pictures right after development. The fastest way to see your stereos in 3D is to scan them and view them on a mobile device under your stereoscope. You can also print stereo cards on photographic paper which will give you a perfect gift for your friends and family.
Yes. There is some really good software for auto alignment. Stereo Photo Maker for example is a free software to reposition, rectify and crop stereo images automatically. There are also apps for your mobile devices like 3DStereoid (for iOS nad Android).
Sure. Simply use the eyepatch to close one eye of the camera. You will get a monoscopic camera and twice the amount of exposures per film.
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