This week we welcomed Ian Baykey to Salisbury Photography Club for a fascinating introduction to the world of stereo photography.
Ian began by taking us back to the origins of the technique, exploring its history through Victorian examples before moving on to the stereographs produced during the First World War. It was an interesting insight into how photographers have been experimenting with the illusion of depth and three-dimensional imagery for well over a century.
From there, we moved into the modern era, with Ian showcasing his own stereo photography and explaining the equipment and software involved in producing these images.
He also shared some practical tips for anyone interested in giving it a go, including the 'cha cha' technique, which allows you to create stereo images using a single camera by taking two photographs from slightly different positions.
But the real highlight was seeing the images for ourselves. The sense of depth was remarkable, with some subjects appearing to leap right out of the frame, creating an almost tangible experience. You could easily imagine reaching out to touch them!
Ian explained the science and technical principles behind the effect, but there was still something wonderfully magical about seeing familiar photographic subjects brought to life in an entirely different way.
A fascinating evening that offered us a fresh perspective on the possibilities of photography. Our thanks to Ian for sharing his knowledge, experience and some truly immersive images with us.
