geopic's blog
As a Certified Photographic Consultant I'll share photography tips and photoshoot experiences. I'll discuss other interests (such as literature, music, and various other topics) over time.
About Me
- Name: geopic
- Location: St. Louis, Missouri, United States
I'm a Certified Photographic Consultant, have written a couple books, and overall enjoy life.
Wednesday, August 17, 2005
Step into another dimension, the third dimension
3D photography is a fascinating fun hobby.
The first step is to use a 3D camera. Although I imagine it is feasible to use a regular camera and just shift the lens for the subsequent views, true 3d requires multiple views of the same subject merged. The best results come from cameras with multiple lenses, each lens providing a slightly different view in the same horizontal plane. Multi-lens 3D cameras usually have two or four lenses. I use a Nashika 6000 four lens camera. This camera uses standard 35 mm film and takes four images per two film frames. Some cameras with one lens, such as Pentax digital cameras, provide a 3D feature that helps you align your lens for the second shot. Properly aligned shots from the same lens can provide the basic 3D effect with appropriate viewers.
Viewing 3D images can be done in a variety of ways. My Nashika came with a 3D photo example, taken with the camera and developed on reticulated paper, so no glasses are required to view it. The only problem is finding the right paper and anyone who still develops using this method. Barring that, the images can be developed normally, and used with a viewer to get the 3D effect. I chose to develop mine to CDs. This gives me the flexibility to edit and print only selected images. The trick to viewing them though is making them the right size for the viewer of choice.
At the Third Dimension Society Meeting on August 10, Dave Rapp gave a presentation called Stereo with a Nimslo. The Nimslo is also a four lens cameras, but both that I saw at the meeting were modified to two lens systems. They also had macro lenses mounted onto the front of them, to enable macro photography of subjects like flowers and bugs. A slide show of pictures taken using this system followed and it was a great to watch. The pictures were taken with slide film and shown with a two lens projector. The audience wore 3D glasses to get the desired effect. The detail and depth of field in the photos was great. I wish I had a way to display it properly here but I don't. The best I can do is offer one of my 3D pics, displayed side by side. If you look at it just right, you might be able to merge the images without a viewer, but I wouldn't go cross-eyed trying. It's easier to get a viewer and be amazed.
geopic
Wednesday, August 10, 2005
Photography Adventure: Lake Carlyle
One thing I love about working with the public is the great tips I get from my customers. Last week a customer told me there is a good bird watching site on the north side of Lake Carlyle. Good leads are worth following through on, because whether you find what you are looking for or not, it is always more fun than staying home.
My daughter Brenda came along and we muddled through the state map. Carlyle lake in Illinois is a big lake. All I knew was the spot was near a boat ramp on the north side of the lake, near Keyesport. Our first stop, at lot 3, was a disappointment. It appeared as though the lake used to be there, but it wasn't this hot August day. The park board showed a levy that may have shrunk the lake, or it could have just been the dry season. Not to be deterred we searched on.
Eventually we found a wonderful spot at the Tacoma launch ramp. Heron and egrets were plentiful there, with a backdrop of tree stumps protruding from the lake.
Later Brenda went for a swim while I shot pics of barn swallows. These are beautiful little birds with a long split tale, orange face, and white spots on their tale. There were two nests in action over my head, one with four very small birds with mouths wide open, and another with two large babies about ready to leave the nest. The tricky part about photographing them was their speed. The moms would come in to feed the babies and in an instant would be back out over the field searching for more bugs. If I waited for the mom to hit the nest by the time I raised my camera into position she'd be gone. After a few failed attempts I got an idea. I timed her visits. Once I knew she would visit the nest about every 3 minutes, I waited close to three minutes, got the camera ready, and presto got the shot.
A nearby wildflower field also provided great opportunities for macro closeups of butterflies and flowers. Macro shots can be achieved a couple different ways. A macro lens on an SLR provides the best quality. Another option is to use macro filters. Macro filters usually come in sets of 3 (+1, +2, and +4). They can do a pretty decent job, although they are usually less sharp around the edges than a true macro lens. Some fixed lens cameras, like Konica Minolta's Z series, have a great macro and super macro feature that can be set by pressing the flower button. Just remember to turn the macro off when you are done or your long shots won't focus correctly.
geopic