Stereo photography

[Xenedis]

Has anyone experimented with stereo photography?

Today I stumbled across the following image:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ytf/5846267208

It's actually a pair of almost identical images, horizontally offset by a small amount.

The idea is to view the image from two or three feet away, and cross your eyes so that the two images appear as three. If you have the ability to throw your vision like this, within a few moments you'll see one image in 3D.

It's very cool -- to my eyes, at least.

I had heard of stereo photography, but never paid attention to it.

Now I am intrigued. I think I shall read up about it, and I might start experimenting with stereo photography if it's approachable.

[ricktas]

I have a 3D camera, and I can either do digital 3D or stereoscopic, must say I haven't tried the stereoscopic version, maybe I should.

[colinbm]

Hi Xenedis
Yes it is very addictive & simple if you have two identical Canon Point & Shoot cams.
Have a look here at SDM
http://stereo.jpn.org/eng/sdm/index.htm
This is an off-shoot of the CHDK group
http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/CHDK

I have got two Canon A570IS cameras with identical firmware, & I have made them onto a frame to hold then together & the combined USB trigger etc
Unfortunately I am brain dead, & I haven't got around to getting them to working models
The SDM & CHDK groups are very interesting & is much, much more then it seems.
Cheers
Col

[Scotty72]

I saw a guy at the protest today with this sort of setup: two 5Ds set into a bracket and connected via a cable.

Very cool.

[Xenedis]

I'm curious as to what goes into producing the three-dimensional effect, and thought that maybe it could be achieved by juxtaposing slightly cropped versions of an existing image: one with a small amount cropped off the left side, and the other with the same small amount cropped off the right side.

While I was able to throw my vision, the true 3D effect wasn't apparent in the image.

There's obviously something more to it, and I clearly have some reading to do. :-)

[Scotty72]

Well, our eyes perceive depth by giving us slightly different versions of the same scene. Our brain then triangulates the image and then, depth.

Maybe it's the same principal..

Scotty

[Xenedis]

I gather stereo photography requires two cameras.

That might make it a bit difficult.

[Scotty72]

Expensive too

[colinbm]

It can be done with one cam. You will need to take one shot & very carefully move the cam by about 55-60mm sideways, but on the same plane & shoot again.
It is like closing one eye then, closing the other eye & you see two slightly different perspectives of the same view. One left, one right.
Col

[Scotty72]

But, u must be very precise: move it exactly sideways. Not a tiny bit up/down or forwards/backwards.

[colinbm]

I have heard of some guys doing a moon shoot with one on the east coast of America & one on the west coast & shooting the moon together at the same time, when the moon was half way across the American continent
Col

[mechawombat]

my original pentax optio 3.1mp P&S had this feature and I never used it

I feel the whole 3D thing gimmicky but great find Xenedis

[Xenedis]

It can be done with one cam. You will need to take one shot & very carefully move the cam by about 55-60mm sideways, but on the same plane & shoot again.
It is like closing one eye then, closing the other eye & you see two slightly different perspectives of the same view. One left, one right.

It sounds like the sort of technique that would require a dolly.

I wonder how the focal length (ie, ultra-wide vs. long telephoto) would affect the amount of parallel distance required between shots.

[colinbm]

If you look at the SDM site all will be revealed.
Close-up can be closer then the human eye space 55-60mm.
Further afield landscapes can be spaced wider.
Col

[ricktas]

The FUJI can take either HD 3D or stereoscopic photos if anyone is interested in getting into this. Or the older FUJI can take SD 3D. It is probably an easier way than buying two camera's and joining them together with tape etc.

[Mick B]

Here's one I did about 5 or 6 years ago.
With your eyes approx 12 inches from the screen, stare cross eyed at the black strip between the two photos. You might have to experiment with the distance until you can see a 3 dimensional picture which will appear in between the two

[Scotty72]

Hmmm.

I kinda don't see the point of an image if you've got to stare cross-eyed at it.

[Mick B]

Don't worry Scotty, I can't see the point either. That's why I only ever made 2 of these photos ! It's just interesting to see what can be made from a one dimensional image.

[ameerat42]

Yes. Posted a 2ple in an early thread or 2.

[mickyj]

I have personally played with Anaglyph images (Red/Blue Glasses required) and had not thought of this method.

The Anaglyph method has produced some very cool results for me.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mickyj_photos/5657369562/