I would like to introduce you, and members of your Camera Club, to the Stereoscopic Society, whose aim  is to create and view photographic images in 3D and promote all aspects of photography in 3 dimensions, both digital & film.  The Society was formed in 1893 and has evolved from being exclusively film to an ever increasing proportion of digital imaging.  Digital 3D imaging is becoming ever more popular, particularly with IMAX cinemas, the launch of many films in 3D, eg Avatar, Alice in Wonderland, and in April this year, the new 3D TV channel from Sky is being launched.  3D imaging is really taking off, so why not join the bandwagon.

Fuji have recently brought out the world’s first digital stereoscopic camera, the W1, complete with stereoscopic viewing screen and separate autostereoscpoic viewer so that 3D images can be seen without the need for glasses.  With this system alignment of the two images is completely automatic and images may be viewed immediately in 3D.  3D images may also be taken with custom made twin lens cameras, but increasingly twin standard digital cameras are used, whose shutters can be synchronised very accurately with free software downloaded from the internet (StereoDataMaker) and using connections via the USB ports.  Computer alignment of the twin digital images may be carried out very simply using StereoPhotoMaker, another free software download.  Good 3D images may also be obtained using a single lens camera, and taking two shots from about 65mm apart.  Whichever method of obtaining the images is used, simple viewers can be used to see 3D images from prints, or computer screens.  Recently, digital picture frames with autostereoscopic screens have become available so that 3D images can be seen without the need for glasses.  The Society purchases in bulk supplies of 3D kit for sale to members at considerably less than otherwise available.  We also have a library of 3D books available for loan to members.

If you, or any of your members, would like to come to our meetings and see images come to life with true depth, and in full colour, (unlike the old red/green anaglyph system), you would be most welcome. We meet once a month in London and Coventry.

London meetings are held at St Pancras Church Hall, Lancing St, (off Eversholt St) Camden, NW1 1NA, (2 minutes from Euston Station), on a Saturday afternoon from 2.30 till 5PM (doors open 2.00PM). See website for details. Admission £5.

Coventry meetings are held at St Barbara’s Church Hall, Rochester Road, Coventry, CV5 6AD on a Saturday afternoon from 2.30 till 5PM (doors open 2.00PM). See website for details. Admission £2.

We will be showing the results of our annual 3D Photographic Exhibition, where some of the best 3D images in the country will be viewed, at our Coventry meeting on 10 April and at our London meeting on 17 April.  Come along; you will be amazed.

For further information and to see some of the Exhibition images see www.stereoscopicsociety.org.uk.

Colin Metherell, Supplies Secretary

For photography courses here’s our base camp at Sheffield Park Garden in West Sussex –  the lovely Rose and Crown in nearby Fletching.  Last time we did a course here Sian and Tim very kindly put us on their blog.

Thanks once again to Jane and Di at the Rose and Crown (see their website) for a great day – great people, great food and a great time.  Regrettably we can’t show any pictures due to super-strict National Trust Photography rules.  We can disclose that the sky was blue and the lakes were by Capability Brown!  Another very successful and well-attended photography course.

Last year Rachel and Phil spend a week at Megan Baker House photographing the inspiring work that goes on there with brain injured people.  A touring exhibition of the photos has been around the UK and just arrived at Worcester Cathedral, where it was officially opened by the Bishop of Worcester yesterday evening.

Here’s an article about the exhibition from the Worcester Evening News.

The shots were taken in natural light, mostly with 50mm and 85mm 1.8 lenses in order to de-clutter the scene and emphasise individuals as much as possible.

We feel very strongly that artists should give over a bit of their time and energy pro bono to worthy causes when they can, and you don’t get much more worthy than Megan Baker House. They provide, for free, the kind of conductive education that families used to have to re-mortgage their houses for.  All we had to give up was a week of our time, spread over a couple of months, and all they had to do was put up with us eating their biscuits!