CHAPTER 1ELEMENTARY STEREOGRAPHYHAT Is STEREOCRAPHY? Stereography is a photographic
W technique which enables you to realize your dream of
photography-reproduction of the original just as you saw it.
You can easily imagine, when looking at a stereogram, that you
are looking through a window at the real scene. Color, size, space,
depth and distance are as clearly perceptible as when viewing the
original.
Is it dificult? It has been repeatedly demonstrated that a be-
ginner, knowing nothing whatsoever about photography, will
have a greater degree of success in stereo than in conventional
photography.
Is any special skill required? Definitely no! Anyone of average
intelligence can begin to make good stereograms without special
knowledge or the use of any special technique.
Is special equipment required? Strictly speaking, no, because
even a box camera may be used for making stereograms. But
practically it is highly advisable to use the regular two-lens stereo
camera which is in reality two cameras built into one body.
Is it expensive? No. The film roll that will provide 20 exposures
for the conventional miniature camera will provide 16 or 17
stereo pairs. The added cost will not exceed ten percent.
With one camera (Personal), the^20 exposure magazine will
provide^36 or^38 stereo pairs.
Is color film essential? No. Color does add greatly to the value
of the stereogram, just as it does to any photograph. However
stereography has been practised for more than a century, so natu-
rally most of it has been in black-and-white. You can use any
sensitive media you choose.
What are the limitations? None. The normal stereo negative
may be used for making single enlargements, for example. Stereo
may be applied to photomicro, macro, telephoto, portraits, rec-
ords, figure study, landscape, flowers, and of course to motion
pictures. Stereo may be applied to any form of photography,
not even excepting stroboscopic studies and X-ray.
Color films are as limited in application as any color film.
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