Outdoor 3D

It's a 3D World

Instructions for how to view stereo images with the cross-eye method can be found here, here, and here. Click on the images below for better viewing. When you click on these images they are displayed in new larger windows with fewer surrounding distractions.

I went outside in early December to continue 3D imaging. Here's my favorite part of the Lynchburg bike path. The depth of the receding path in the center shows up nicely.

This stereo pair seems to have a very strong 3D effect, particularly in the tree branches on the left side and the row of green trees on the right side. This is one of the best depth portrayals I've achieved so far.

I hoped this fence might make a good 3D image, but it's not as dramatic as I thought. The grass in the foreground seems more three-dimensional than the fence.

These trees and sunbeams show decent 3D effects, but the effect isn't particularly strong. I'd like to try a thicker forest with more trees at near distances.

The 3D effect seems stronger in this late afternoon image of trees.

The next post will feature a 3D portrait of Thomas Jefferson's Poplar Forest home.   

3D Rocks!

More 3D Stereo Fun!

I'm having a blast making 3D stereo images! Check out this example of pyrite crystals in talc. Use the cross-eyed viewing technique described here, here, and here. Click on the images below for better viewing. When you click on these images they are displayed in new larger windows with fewer surrounding distractions.

The fluorite crystals in the next image pair combine into a decent 3D image even though the right image is slightly out of focus. Apparently, at least for me, the brain chooses to perceive the focused left image rather than the fuzzy right image when constructing the 3D combination. Click on the image to get a better view.

Click on the next image and try viewing this mixture of arsenopyrite, muscovite, fluorite, and quartz at different distances from the screen. When you view from just the right distance you can see all details of the specimen in 3D. Let your attention wander around the 3D scene as you hold it in focus.

The following specimen also seemed easier to view at some sizes and screen distances than others. It contains spessartine garnet, smokey quartz, feldspar, and pyrite. Click for a larger view and try changing your distance from the screen. Once again, let your attention wander around the varied surface as you hold the 3D scene in focus.

In my next post I venture outside for more 3D photography. 

3D Images!

Cross-eyed Fun!

The solar observing season has ended, but I'm still having fun making pictures. I've been playing with 3D images, learning by trial and error. The technique is easy to carry out. Use a digital camera to capture two images of the same scene from slightly different viewpoints. Take the first image, then move the camera slightly to the right and take the second image. Place the images side by side and view them cross-eyed. The two images combine into a single 3D image that pops into perception with surprising clarity. Detailed instructions for cross-eyed viewing can be found here, here, and here. After the first few successful attempts cross-eyed viewing becomes quite easy. Try it yourself on my images below.

Here's my "garden" of solar powered flip-flop flowers. You can try the cross-eyed viewing technique with the images as they appear here, or click on the image to see a larger version.

I tried a different head-on view that doesn't have as much depth. Once again, click on the image to see a larger version. I've found stereo images that are more wide than high are a bit harder to see in 3D. It might help to try varying the viewing distance from the computer screen if you're having trouble seeing these rectangular images.

Here's another wide example that worked pretty well. Try clicking on the image for a larger view. I found this last stereo pair to be harder to see in 3D unless it is more isolated from nearby text and images. Clicking for the larger image may help to remove this image from surrounding distractions in the blog.

My wife has won many, many trophies during her long competitive running career. Below is one portion of her treasures. Once again, the wide images require some concentration to be perceived in 3D. Try cross-eyes on the smaller version here before clicking to get the larger version.

More running trophies!

Stay tuned for more 3D images in my next post.

Improved Mosaics - Part 2

Better, But Still Not Perfect

This is the second post about mosaic construction using Autostich. Twelve images taken on August 2, 2012 were combined into the following incomplete portrait of the solar disk showing a nice display of sunspots and filaments.

The full-sized version of this image is 3864 pixels wide by 2638 pixels high! The inverted version below highlights cloud-like filaments.

It's obvious I could not capture a full disk mosaic on August 2. By September 23, however, using my new, precise telescope mount, I was able to make a nearly complete disk image. Here is a 22-image mosaic from September 23rd. The full-sized image is 4047 pixels wide by 4186 pixels high!

The blending in this image isn't perfect, but it's a BIG improvement over the following patchwork with no blending.

Finally, here is the inverted version of the September 23rd mosaic:

I'm irked by the three missing notches on the Sun's rim. I was a little careless with telescope movement while capturing the final few images. But I'm now ready to make highly detailed full-disk images as soon as the next observing season starts.