3D all Around Us

Santa of today has a technical mindset therefore he quite often surprises the well-behaving big girls and boys with some flashy, new toys. I haven’t read any statistics yet but I bet that a large number of them got something to do with 3D. A new 3D TV, 3D digital frame, or even a 3D camera.

Owning any of these clever thingies also keeps them busy for the rest of the holiday season by forcing them to educate themselves; reading the manuals, searching the web for some tricks and tips and so on. I thought I’ll try to make their jobs easier and write down some useful tips specifically for those who have a 3D camera.

How can you maximize the 3D effect?

According to the manufacturers you can take both beautiful close-up and landscape pictures. Although the most impressive 3D photos are landscapes, or portraits taken somewhere outside in the nature, where the composition can be divided into three areas:

1. Foreground – min. 6 feet (or 2 meters) away from the photographer 
2. Main subject – min. 15-20 feet (or 4.5-6 meters) away from the photographer. 
3. Background

Overlapping different objects of different distances will also maximize the 3D effect.

Composition in 3D - 8 Easy Steps to Follow

1. When composing your shot think depth: try to keep the main subject at a medium distance from the camera.
2. Have something before and behind the main subject.  
3. You want the foreground object to overlap more distant objects in the photo. So the 3D effect will be particularly dramatic.
4. The only thing left now is the background. It’s easy! Just bear in mind that it should be neither too close nor too far from the main subject.
5. Try not to pose your subject against a flat, uniform background, like a blank wall. If you do so, the result will probably be a picture that won’t have the depth you want.
6. To enhance your photos try to use the brightest colours possible.
7. Never turn your camera. Always compose your pictures horizontally. 
8. Avoid taking pictures of large groups. A few people – a small group, family – can still look stunning in 3D, while photographing masses can ruin the expected 3D effect.