The World of 3-D A Practical Guide to Stereo Photography

by Jacobus G. Ferwerda

Since its first printing in 1982, thousands of copies of The World of 3-D have been sold to stereo photographers around the world. This book has been widely acknowledged as the standard text on the subject. It is the most complete and definite book presently available on stereo photography in all its practical aspects from seeing, taking, and producing. It starts out basic enough for the absolute beginner, but advances in logical steps to cover more advanced and diverse topics.

With over 245 illustrations, many of which are stereo pairs suitable for free viewing or viewing with a simple viewer, The World of 3-D sets out to answer the questions that are asked by everyone who wants to make their own 3-D pictures. At the same time, it challenges the more experienced stereographer to think about what he is doing, perhaps from a new perspective.

An excellent addition to this book would be the View-Master 3 reel set Jacobus G. Ferwerda - The Man of 3-D which is a good way to see the work of the man who wrote the book.

The World of 3-D is divided into six parts and 27 chapters:

1 An easy beginning: stereo pairs on paper
2 Taking a stereo picture
3 Perfection in stereo mounting
4 Stereo projection
5 Separation of homologous points in stereo mounting and stereo projection
6 A few special stereo techniques

Review by David Hutchingson

"The World of 3-D" by Jacobus G. Ferwerda. Published
by The Netherlands Society for Stereo Photography,

Not since the long out print of Stereo Realist Manual
by Morgan and Lester has there been so valuable a
book for the stereographer, novice and jouneyman
alike. The book is divided into six parts and 27
chapters. Part one begins with stereoscopic prints and
stereoscopes and includes information on making and
viewing stereo prints either with the traditional
Holmes viewer or by free viewing. Part two, "Taking a
Stereo Picture" surveys stereo cameras, techniques,
convergence, hypo and hyper stereo. Part three, "Perfection
in Stereo Mounting" faces the problems of the
stereo window, mounting of slides for projection and
different techniques for different formats. Part four,
"Stereo Projection" details systems, screens, techniques
and showmanship. Part five, "Separation of
Homologous Points in Stereo Mounting and Stereo Projection"
is addressed to more advanced and experienced
stereographers who are ready to grapple with
the more esoteric points of the craft and science of
good stereo projection. And, finally, part six, briefly
describes such special stereo techniques as double exposures,
titles, anaglyphs, macro stereophotography
and even delves into the world of auto stereoscopy or
3-D without glasses.

With over 245 illustrations many of which are
stereo pairs suitable for free viewing or with a
lorgnette viewer, this volume sets out to answer the
questions that are asked by everyone who wants to
make his own 3-D pictures and challenges the
more experienced stereographer to think about
what he is doing, perhaps, from a new perspective.
The book concludes with an extensive bibliography,
addresses of stereo suppliers and institutes worldwide,
and an index to stereo photography clubs. The
World of 3-D is written specifically for the still camera
photographer and therefore does not discuss
stereoscopic film or TV, subjects which are covered
very well elsewhere. The book has been translated
from the Dutch edition into English by non-native
English speakers and may contain some phraseology
that will seem unusual to Americans, but nonetheless
is quite readable and perfectly clear. All measurements
are in the metric system, but most photographers
are used to working in millimeters, and are not
strangers to the system of measurement used by most
of the rest of the world.
This volume could in a short time become every
stenographer's "bible."