Phantograms; Keystone-Mast Collection; Projecting 3-D Ain't Free; Leaves of Photographs; Humble Art; D.I.Y. 3-D; Reel-D; LA's First Family Of Photography; Julius Shulman; Take My Picture; Shooting History
Note from Off-Ramp
This week, Off-Ramp is focusing on photography. You'll hear from the photographer who was with Robert Kennedy on the night he was murdered, and about the history of 3-D pictures.
And we'll tell you about the picture displayed here – it's a phantogram.
Phantograms
Barry Rothstein is a modern master of phantograms. More than other kinds of stereo photos, phantograms leap off the page at you.
Keystone-Mast Collection
KPCC's Steven Cuevas visits UC Riverside's California Museum of Photography, which is the home to tens of thousands of stereoscopic images from around the globe.
Those pictures were snapped by photographers working for the Keystone View Company of Pennsylvania. They document life from the first half of the 20th century... and decades later, they deliver unmatched depth and clarity.
Projecting 3-D Ain't Free
Jeff Josephs talks about The Golden Age of 3-D films. Joseph collects and preserves prints of 3-D movies such as House of Wax, Dial M For Murder and Robot Monster.
Leaves of Photographs
Artist Binh Danh has taken an innovative approach to photography, he uses leaves instead of photography paper. Binh Danh's work was featured in last year's OCMA Biennial.
Humble Art
Photographer John Humble, who was recentley on exhibit at the Getty, explains why he's drawn to LA's ugly side.
D.I.Y. 3-D
To inaugurate Off-Ramp's first photography show, John Rabe and Queena Kim show you how to make your own 3-D photos.
Taking Stereo Photos
A Handy Guide by John Rabe, host of Off-Ramp
89.3 KPCC, Southern California Public Radio
Introduction
All you need is a standard digital camera with an infinity focus, somewhat steady hands, and an eye for good stereo subjects.
A viewer is also helpful. Inexpensive viewers are available through www.3dstereo.com. The Squeeze-Vu model works well for home viewing 3" x 5" images. The site also has kits for traditional 3.5" x 7" viewers.
For more on stereo photos, visit our Web site at http://www.scpr.org/programs/offramp/
John Rabe, Wildlife Photographer
Instructions
1) Look for a good stereo photo subject, with something in the foreground that accentuates the stereo effect.
An object that goes from the foreground to the back of the picture, like the railing in the picture of John and Queena below, is also effective. Note how Queena's tilted left foot also adds to the effect.
2) Using the infinity focus feature, take one photo, then move the camera about 2.5 inches (the distance between your eyes) and take another photo. Be careful to keep the camera in the same plane between shots.
If you are using the Squeeze-Vu photo viewer, shoot the photos in portrait (vertical) format.
If you are using an old fashioned stereopticon, shoot them in landscape (horizontal) format.
3) Print the photos. If you are printing the photos directly, use these size guidelines:
For Squeeze-Vu viewer: 2.5" wide by 3.25" high. For old-fashioned viewer: 3.25" wide by 2.5" high.
If you're using the Windows Printing Wizard, pick the "wallet size" prints.
4) Cut out the photos. Keep track of which photo was taken on the left, and which was taken on the right.
5) Attach the photos to a 3"x5" card, directly adjacent to each other (no space in between them).
6) Place the card with the photos in the viewer.
7) If the images don't blend properly, you can adjust them up-down/side-to-side until they do.
8) Take lots of stereo photos and bug your friends with them until they get stereo photo fever themselves.
Reel-D
Joshua Greer talks about his first love: 3-D photographs. Greer is the CEO of Real-D, a company that helped filmmakers make animated movie Monster House 3-D.
LA's First Family Of Photography
The Watson family has a star on the Walk of Fame because they've been taking photos of L.A. since the 1800s.
Delmar Watson is a photographer and keeper of the Watson family archive, which includes more than 2 million negatives and photos.
Julius Shulman
Julius Shulman's claim to the fame is that he's simply one of the best photographers of architecture around. When Shulman turned 95 in 2005, the Getty opened an exhibit of his work and threw him a birthday party.
Take My Picture
Local photographer Gary Leonard has been taking pictures in Southern California for decades.
Shooting History
Former Los Angeles Times' photographer Boris Yaro was with Robert Kennedy when he was shot and killed in 1968 at the Ambassador Hotel.