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Recursion Alert: View this image through red-cyan glasses to see how to take a 3D photo, in 3D.

3D Photography
Taking stereographs is easier and more fun
than ever. By Bill Coderre

Photograph by Bill Coderre

3D photography has been around for almost If you don’t have red-cyan glasses, you can find as long as regular photography. But the 1950s some at a comics shop, attached to any Ray Zone brought the fad of 3D horror movies, starting title. Or, you can buy them from American Paper with Bwana Devil (1952) and House of Wax (1953). Optics (see page 145, “Further References”). Many of these were so bad that 3D soon became an embarrassment. Even 50 years later, 3D still The Stereo Shuffle: hasn’t shaken its reputation as a cheap gimmick Taking Basic 3D Photos that causes headaches — which is a shame, Grab your digital camera, and head outside. Find because the medium can produce compelling a scene with a fun variety of distances to focus images worthy of contemplation. on. The closest objects should be at least 5 feet

It’s time for a 3D renaissance. In the last few away, and perfectly still. Also, make sure that years, computers have made it simple to produce everything in the scene will be in sharp focus. color 3D images in just a few minutes. All it takes Sunny conditions will help your depth of field. is a digital camera, some free software, and a pair Ready? Hold the camera to your eye, and lean of red-cyan glasses. I’ll explain how to do this, very slightly to the left. Snap a picture. Lean very and also suggest some camera projects that can slightly to the right, and snap another picture. make taking 3D pictures even easier. That’s your basic “stereo shuffle” right there.