May 11th, 2021 | Updated on February 19th, 2022
When it comes to eyesight, a 3D is perfectly natural as human eyes can show us different perspectives. On the other hand, cameras generally have one lens, meaning that they can only give a flat 2D scene.
Those who see these pictures miss out on the realism of the captured scene. This feels less natural because of the lack of depth.
3d pictures, on the other hand, give the viewer depth. They are made when two shots are taken of the same scene, where one of them is slightly offset compared to the other.
This slight difference works to trick the viewer’s brain into thinking that they are looking at a picture with depth when in reality, it does not, and this is simply an illusion being created.
3D Photography
3d pictures require 3D photography. But another question is, what is 3D photography? 3D photography can be created by taking and then displaying two offset images.
The principle that this follows is stereopsis, where a change in perspective depth is experienced. This style of photography and videography has become a popular trend in the last decade.
This movement began in the 1950s, however, when the Stereo Realist Camera came out. It had 135 mm film that made it easy to use while also being accessible.
But even before this, in 1839, this technique was used for stereo views or stereoscopy. The users saw the enhancement and an illusion of depth when they looked at a stereogram.
This means that two images were seen by each eye, and the brain combines the two to make a perception of depth. When it came to videos, these techniques began to enrich the viewing experience.
Movies like Titanic began to be revamped with having a 3D look. IMAX cinemas began to show footage with cameras that made this effect.
This style of photography has been making a comeback because of the simplicity found in digital photography. Today, even smartphones can give the used 3D images, and sometimes they are preferred because of their size and also the editing apps and range of capturing.
The History of 3D Photography
In 1839, photography was new technology as is. This meant that across the globe, people were experimenting with the different possibilities that there were with photography.
One of the new techniques found was 3d photography that was in the form of stereoscopy. What was done was that the viewer would look at two separate images on the stereoscope. This device was then brought to the face of the viewer, so each eye looked at an image separately and independently.
This resulted in binocular vision that gave the 3D image. But this process led to the belief that the corresponding eye was the one governing that side of the brain, i.e., the left side of the brain only saw through the left eye and the right side of the brain only through the right eye.
Sir Charles Wheatstone was the one who documented this new technique after all of his investigations. His results were published the year before another process led to the creation of a 3D stereo image by William Henry Fox Talbot.
The View-Master was created by William Gruber and Edwin Eugene Mayer in 1939. They then decided to continue working on updating the stereoscope. And this with a circular card that could hold very small Kodachrome transparencies.
This card had four slides which were splint into seven pairs. Each view would show the person two images of the same scene that would be seen by each eye independently. This would then stimulate binocular depth perception that was needed to turn a simple image into a 3D picture.
In 1939, Edwin Eugene Mayer and William Gruber created the View-Master. They decided to work on updating the stereoscope device with a circular card that held tiny Kodachrome transparencies.
The View Mater was released at the New York World’s Fair in 1939 and went on to sell in stationery shops, photography stores, and attractions. Two main subjects here were the Grand Canyon and the Carlsbad Caverns.
The production of this product stopped in 2008 but was redesigned for many decades and yet exists in different forms. The View-Master became outdated because of the rise of digital photography.
The next step to this is Virtual Reality, and this has become a trend in the markets now. The idea, in some ways, is very similar.
The viewer that is using VR tech wears a mask covering their eyes, and each eye is given an image to look at of the very same scene.
Tips to Shoot 3D Photography
Here are a few tips for anyone wanting to try 3D photography.
- It is recommended that the camera settings are not changed so that everything remains the same across both images.
- It is best to capture more than is needed so that the photographer can choose from the best when editing it later. Sometimes images can look different on different screens, and this is another reason why multiple captures are important.
- The subjects are to the shot close as the closer they are; the less separation will be needed in the final image.
- It is best to choose a subject that has depth, so one must stay away from objects like walls that can only give 2D images. Other elements in the background are recommended as they can help in maximization of the effect.
- In 3D photography, an attempt is made to replicate two images seen by the eyes of everything looked at. This means that it is best to use, as a reference, the distance between the pupils. This helps in gauging how apart each image’s center has to be for this effect.
- The subject is to remain centered as what is ideal is that the photographer shoots one object in the center. This gives the opportunity to show the various sides while ensuring that the subject is the center of focus and leaves no room for distractions.
