Astrecks

Yes! thats right, you can shoot 3D photographs, well actually Stereoscopic photographs just using one camera, which can be either digital or film, although viewing photographs on your PC monitor is easier.

The main idea is to take two photographs of the same view from slightly different angles. The other main trick is to view them in 3D on your PC screen.

This is done in a similar manner to those "Magic Eye" pictures that used to be shown in the Sunday newspaper supplements.

Take a look at the photographs below.

The method is to stare at the photographs and slowly "squint" your eyes until the left image overlaps the right image, you will become aware of three photographs, the middle one will be stereoscopic.

Once your focus is fixed on the stereoscopic photograph you will be able to look around the scene.

With practise this does get easier, although I have to say, if you find it a strain, or it gives you a headache then stop straight away! I wouldn't recommend viewing photographs in this manner for too long a period.

So you want to know how you do it? O.K. its easy!

Just find a scene that has some "depth" to it (a distant mountain view will not really look stereoscopic unless there are some objects in the foreground), try to make some reference points.

After taking the first shot, take one pace (about 2feet 6inces) to the right, re-align your reference points and take the second shot. It is important you remember the sequence you took when you shot the photographs.

It is best to decide which way you will move to take the second shot, left or right and stick to it on every occasion as it will make it easier when sorting your photographs, digital photographs are usually named automatically with an ascending number, I always move to the right for the second shot, although I would consider something different if I was stood to the left of a fast flowing river after my first shot!

Back home at the PC, arrange the photographs side by side on your screen (resize the photographs as necessary), note, it is important to remember to switch your photographs so that the sequence is opposite to that in which they were shot, ie if you took your photographs with the left/right sequence the righthand shot must be to the left on you screen and the first photograph you shot must be to the right, otherwise your photographs will not look stereoscopic!

One of the limitations of this method of stereoscopic photography is that photgraphic subjects really need to be in-animate as moving obejects, such as people or vehicles will have moved to a different position by the time you take the second photograph.

To be continued......