How to make 3D: 1) Take an image from slightly different angles to represent your eyes (above). 2) Convert one to red, and another to cyan (below). 3) Combine them to create a 3D anaglyph (not pictured). Click to see a large version of the page above.

David Tank, a professor of journalism at UW-Stout, is a true-blue 3D enthusiast. Just visiting his home outside of Menomonie gives one a clear understanding of his passion for this type of photography. His home is covered in memorabilia; he owns some of the earliest stereoscopes that date back from the mid 1800s. His collection ranges from random ads to Toy Story 3D comforters. 

 

Click to see a large version of the page above.

Last summer Tank devoted himself to researching, writing, and publishing his second 3D book, titled The Magic of 3D Photography. This newly released book is an educational resource aimed at children to help them have an interactive way for studying this booming type of photography. 

Tank himself started getting into it when he was a child. “My initial enthusiasm stems from getting view masters as a kid, every Christmas,” Tank said. “I don’t remember not enjoying them. Plus my grandfather did 3D and he was always running around taking pictures.”

Tank’s first book was a photo-tutorial of Wisconsin’s wildflowers, but he chose a different approach to this book. “I thought a kids book would be the most fun presentation.”

“I think 3D is a lot of fun,” he said. “It has well-researched information, but this is not a dry book. I took all the photos in the book, and my favorite images are the bowl of cereal and the arm sticking out of the page.”

Tank not only has fun teaching this to kids, but also likes to add his enthusiasm to the work. “This topic does not show up in any Mass Communication text, so I took it upon myself to teach my college students.” 

Purchase The Magic of 3D Photography at Amazon, The Mabel Tainter, Crossroad Books, or The Local Store.