The History of 3D Photography

Believe it or not, 3D photography has existed for over 150 years.

In 1838 Professor Charles Wheatstone established that humans perceive depth when the brain combines two slightly different images. Each eye, separated by about two and a half inches, sees things with a slightly different aspect. This discrepancy, Wheatstone believed, allows us to see the world in three dimensions.

At almost the same time, Mr. Fox Talbot invented the process of putting pictures on paper through the action of light. To prove his theory, Wheatstone invented an instrument he called the stereoscope to view paired images, known as stereographs. Within fifty years of that moment, stereo photography grew to become one of the most popular forms of entertainment, becoming as widespread as TV is today. In the 1890’s nearly every home owned a stereoscope.

The popularity of stereo photography declined rapidly after the introduction of the Kodak Brownie camera in 1900.

Within another fifty years however, 3D became an entertainment mania again. The invention of Kodachrome color film along with the introduction of the Realist stereo camera fueled a renewed interest in personal, color 3D photography, while everything from Viewmaster discs, comic books, and a variety of movies were all produced in 3-D during the 1950’s.

In the 1960’s it was arrival of the Kodak Instamatic camera, along with the color Polaroid, which quelled interest in 3D photography.

In recent years 3D has started growing once again. With IMAX movies becoming a popular form of entertainment, media publications such as Sport Illustrated and TV Guide have used 3D to drive reader interest. Spy Kids 3D is the first popular anaglyph format movie produced in over twenty years. Over 10 major 3D Movie titles have been produced between 2005 and 2008 with numerous movie theaters becoming equipped with polarized projectors.

The widespread adoption of personal computers, digital cameras and desktop photo printers has now removed any obstacles to stereo 3D photography in the home or office. With the introduction of Photo3-D, now anyone who can operate a digital camera can take their own, eye-popping 3D photos.

In the past three years Stereo 3D technologies have touched laptops, monitors, display systems, and loads of new gadgets and capturing devices have been introduced.

Source:http://blog.mission3-dgroup.com

Bruce Tull
http://www.mission3-dgroup.com