Stereoscopic Photography
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Stereoscopic Photography
Stereoscopic Photography or Stereoscopy is a source of photography that produces three-dimensional imaging and the illusion of depth from a two-dimensional pair of images.
Characteristics
Production
Stereoscopic images are captured by using a camera with two lenses placed 2.5 inches apart. This is to stimulate the distance between the human eyes. The photos may appear to be identical, but they are actually slightly different. When viewed in the prismatic lens of a stereoscope, the two images assimilate into one, and the brain then perceives the image as three-dimensional.
Stereoscopic Cards
A wide range of subjects were used as images for stereoscopic photography. The most popular subjects were landscapes and monuments, but images varied from scenes of scientific, comical and sensual nature. Anyone had the opportunity to experience travel from the comfort of their home with sterescopic photography. Places that many would never have the opportunity to visit in a lifetime such as Paris, the Seven Wonders of the World, and exotic lands. Famous personalities and memorable events were also captured such as writers, presidents, slavery and abolition, religion and rituals and the Civil War. The most common and earliest method of developing sterescopic cards for viewing is the albumen (egg white) photograph. This consisted of coating a glass plate with salted egg whites containing potassium iodide.The albumen process produced very fine detail, but had slow exposure times ranging between five and fifteen minutes. It was mainly used to develop architectural or still life images.
History
Before Photography
The idea of stereoscopy actually preceded the photography process. Comparable to television and the Internet today, stereoscopic photography was considered both an educational and recreational device during the second half of the 19th century, and was a permanent staple within many American households. It was extremely popular during the Victorian Era especially after Queen Victoria expressed an interest in sterescopic photography at the 1851 Crystal Palace Exposition in London. Individuals from all social classes owned, collected, traded and purchased stereoscopic images as a common pastime.
The Beginning
Although stereoscopic photography gained popularity in the 19th century, the concept was invented in the early 16th century by Italian scholars Giovanni Battista della Porta (1538-1615) and Jacopo Chimenti da Empoli (1554-1640). Both individuals produced drawings side-by-side that demonstrated the understanding of binocular vision. The construction of stereoscopic equipment did not take place until the 1800's after French optician Jules Dubosq (1817-1886) built a stereoscopic camera. In 1853 Jean Francois Antoine Claudet (1797-1867) patented the stereoscope after the influence of Dubosq.
Advancements: The View-Master
Introduction
In the 1940's a modified and minature version of the stereoscope was introduced as the View-Master.Originally intended as an alternative to the scenic postcard, View-Masters became popular items in tourist giftshops. Although it is marketed as a children's toy, it was not originally intended to be. During World War II the U.S. military utilized the View-Master as a training device for their personnel.
How It Works
Pairs of two-dimensional views are printed on translucent film which is then mounted around the edge of a cardboard disk. A lever is used to move the disk to move from one image to the next. While a View-Master reel holds 14 film slides, there are really only seven stereoscopic images; two film slides are viewed simultaneously - one for each eye - thus simulating binocular depth perception. Popular subjects of View-Master reels are cartoon and fairytale characters from children's stories.
Sources
- "History of Photography: Development of Stereoscopic Photography." Encyclopædia Britannica. 2008. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 14 Sept. 2008 <http://original.britannica.com/eb/article-252850>
- "Stereoscophy." Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. 14 Sept. 2008. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/stereoscopy>.
- "Stereoview Photographers." Ancestorville: Antiques and Genealogy. 14 Sept. 2008. <http://ancestorville.com/stereovillephotographs.html>.
- "Stereoscopic Photography." A History of Photography. 14 Sept. 2008. <http://www.rleggat.com/photohistory/>.
