Tikkurila elementary school exploring the 3D-exhibition in 20.8.2007. Photo: OJ.
Articles
Olli Jaatinen
Optically Reconstructed Space
My interest in stereoscopy is based on two important experiences. First came the foundation, “the creation of an image from nothing”. As a little boy, I dipped a white piece of paper that came with a packet of Batman biscuits into a saucer of vinegar and watched it “develop” into a picture of Robin. The other, no less wonderful, experience were the 3-D figures of the View-Master reels, of which my favourites were Rin-Tin-Tin and Rusty.
But then some time passed since childhood, until in 1995 I saw the 3-D film “Wings of Courage” in the Sony IMAX 3-D Theater in New York. It was a story of the pioneers of airmail, some thirty minutes long and starring Val Kilmer. In one of the scenes I could “sit down” to dinner with the star and his colleagues. The feeling of presence was so strong that I had to see if I could grab the wine glass on the table. Therefore it’s not a good idea to go and see this film if you’re hungry, or if you have tendency for motion sickness. The reason for the short duration of the film is the considerable strain on the eyes caused by the special glasses needed for viewing, with LCD lenses synchronized with the frames of the film. The viewer wears a half-helmet with small speakers in the back expanding the multi-channel audio effect of the IMAX cinema to even greater dimensions. After the film, it was absolutely necessary to go to a coffee shop to my eyes and mind.
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Released in the book Stereovalokuvan taika - The Magic of 3-D Photography. Musta Taide Publishing Company, Mikkeli Centre of Photography and The Finnish Museum of Photography. Helsinki. 2007. ISBN 978-952-9851-83-6.