PROJECT: 3D For Everyone

PRIZES! Every person who submits an entry in this project will receive a FREE Pixi 3D viewer* and the overall winner, as decided by the judges will win a Loreo 3D lens-in-a-cap for their digital SLR camera** valued at approximately $100USD (pictured right). Free shipping is provided for the viewers and 3D lens. These prizes are provided thanks to the generosity of Loreo.

Submissions are coming in – you can see them here.

3D is coming. Thousands of theatres around the USA are being converted into 3D cinemas, and the big names in Hollywood are getting behind the new medium, with Pixar, James Cameron and others saying they’ll never make a 2D movie again. With the coming wave of 3D movies, you can guarantee that the third dimension is going to be the hottest “new” thing again.

If you thought you needed expensive cameras or 3D lens attachments to get into 3D photography, I’ve got some good news for you. Anybody, with any kind of camera can take 3D photos using the “cha-cha” method. And that’s what May’s project is all about!

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Contents

• 3D For Everyone
• Rules
• Judging Criteria
• Prizes
• 3D Month
• Submission Form
• Terms

3D For Everyone

In March, I showed you How to See 3D Photos, and then How to Take 3D Photos. If you haven’t read these posts yet, go and do so, they’re essential reading to participate in this project.

The task for this project is quite simple. Take a 3D photo of anything you like, using the cha-cha method, process the image into a single cross-view 3D image (as described in the linked post above) and submit it via the form below!

Rules

• This competition is open to anyone around the world.
• Images must be presented in crosseye format.
• Photos must be taken using the cha-cha method with a single camera. 3D cameras or lenses are not acceptable.
• You may use any photographic equipment you have, except a 3D lens or similar. Flash-lit, macro or other specialty 3D photography is encouraged.
• Images must meet the technical standards described below.
• The subject of the photo must be appropriate for a general audience. Implied artistic nudity is acceptable, but not more than that. The final decision about entry appropriateness is mine.
• The photo must be taken within the period of the project.
• Submissions will be displayed for voting anonymously. Do NOT watermark your image.
• I will be accepting ONE and only one entry per person, so pick your best shot.
• Competitors may change their mind and submit a different entry up until the due date. The most recently submitted entry will be considered the final entry.
• Upload the photo to your preferred photo sharing service or blog.
• All submissions must be on publicly accessible pages – no myspace or facebook accounts please.
• Flickr entries must allow access to “All Sizes”, otherwise I have to use a workaround to save the image.
• Submit your entry by filling out the form below.
• You agree to the Terms of Entry.
• The due date for your submission is the end of May 26th AEST – check here for the time in your zone.
• These rules may change at any stage during the project if I feel that it is necessary.

Note: Entrants may post links to their submissions in the comments below and ask specific questions about their photos (eg – how can I correct the window violation in this photo). This project is about learning how to take great 3D photos, so I’m happy to offer any technical help on specific problems. I will not offer creative opinions, and only specific questions will be addressed. Questions such as: “how can I make my photo better”, or “is this good enough to be entered” will not be answered. All contestants may do this with their proposed entries before submitting them if they wish.

As submissions will be anonymous for voting, the comments for this thread will be taken offline during the voting to minimise the chance of people deliberately seeking out their friends’ photos in order to vote for them.

Judging Criteria

Due to the technical nature of many aspects of this competition, I will be working closely with the judges, and advising them about what makes a technically good 3D photo. Some photos may potentially disqualify themselves immediately if they do not meet the technical requirements. The idea of the project is to explore the artistic merit of 3D photography, while ensuring a high standard of technical skill. The judges will be requested to make their choice based on the following criteria.

• 3D effect must be natural. Exaggerated or underdone 3D is not acceptable, but this will depend on the subject.
• Large scale “hyper-stereo” photos (eg: cityscape, landscape) are permitted.
• No part of the image may touch the 3D window edge (ie: window violation), except for the bottom, and then may not extend forward of that edge.
• Movement of the subject between frames should be avoided, and if it affects the 3D effect, will not be acceptable.
• Both elements of the 3D image must match, including white balance, exposure, etc.
• The image must have a suitable frame or border to make viewing comfortable, unless this isn’t relevant (eg: a macro 3D against a white field).
• Distracting reflections or specular highlights are discouraged. This is the case when the reflection is drastically different to each eye and looks out of place.
• Photos which display the 3D effect cleverly or creatively without being cliche are to be encouraged.
• Creative intrusions into the 3D window are encouraged, provided they meet all other technical requirements.
• Distracting background elements which appear only in one view are strongly discouraged.
• Images which display good photographic technique, beyond just good 3D technique are encouraged.
• ALL of these criteria are flexible. If a great image suffers from a minor flaw, it should still be considered a potential winner if the overall effect of the photo is good enough to render the flaw insignificant.

There may seem like a lot of rules and criteria, but due to the prizes, I’m expecting some pretty fierce competition, and I’d like to see the winning prize go to the best photo. I’d also like everyone to know up-front what the judges will be looking for, to give you all the best chance you have to win!

Prizes!

* Every person who submits an entry to this project will receive for FREE a Pixi 3D viewer, designed for viewing parallel 3D images on screen or in print about 25-33cm wide. The only condition for this gift is that everyone who receives a viewer please share their experience using it and any suggestions they have on this blog. I’ll be writing a post specifically for this purpose. Loreo will ship the viewer to the address you give in your submission, free of charge.

** The winner of the 3D for Everyone project will win a Loreo 3D Lens-in-a-Cap, plus a Deluxe 3D Viewer and Lite 3D Viewer. This will be shipped as a Mail Order Box Set. This lens must be used on an SLR camera, and you will need to provide Loreo (through me) with the make and model of your camera to ensure you get the correct lens. Some cameras will not accept the 3D Lens-in-a-Cap. Please check compatibility with your camera here. If you do not own an SLR or DSLR, then you will not be able to use the 3D lens, however you may want to give it as a gift, or if you are planning to buy a DSLR, get the appropriate 3D lens in anticipation.

The prizes for this competition are proudly provided by Loreo, a 3D Camera and Optical Systems company running since 1982. I am the happy owner of a Loreo 3D lens-in-a-cap for my Canon 350D, and when I had the idea to run a 3D photo project I thought Loreo would be a natural choice to be a sponsor and possibly offer a prize.

When I approached them, I offered them banner advertising throughout my blog for the month of the project, as well as an in-depth review of their product, and acknowledgement as the sponsors of the competition. I asked if they were willing to donate a 3D lens-in-a-cap as a prize for the winner. They responded to me enthusiastically, and happily offered the 3D lens as a prize. In return, they only asked for the acknowledgement and an honest review. They said that they don’t have a problem with getting enough people visiting their site as much as they do with people’s expectations of the product.

3D photography can be a tricky business, and the hype around 3D can lead to misconceptions. Add to that the technical issues of getting a single product to work on a wide variety of DSLR bodies, and you can understand that Loreo have their hands full educating their customers. They asked that I give an honest and thorough review of the 3D lens, so that anybody who might read the review and choose to buy the lens would be fully informed of its strengths and weaknesses.

I have been impressed by Loreo’s enthusiasm for their product, and for the amateur 3D photography community. The 3D lens-in-a-cap is a kind of half-way point between single camera cha-cha 3D photography, and high end 3D cameras, or dual camera setups. I am happy and proud to be working with them to help raise the profile of 3D photography.

3D Month

All month I’ll be writing posts on the topic of 3D. Look forward to a review of the Loreo 3D Lens-in-a-Cap, and the new Pixi 3D viewer. I’ll also try to go into a bit more detail on how to take and process great 3D photos to give entrants so more tips and pointers. I’ll also be scouring the net to find the best examples of 3D photography, and maybe even look at some of the news in the 3D world. So if you’re entering this project, or just want to know more about 3D photography, make sure you subscribe to my blog at the top right so you don’t miss anything!

If you have any questions about the rules or judging criteria, please leave a comment below.

Submit Your Entry

The submissions for this project have closed. You can see the photos submitted to the project here.

Terms & Conditions

Terms: Any photo that you submit remains your sole property. I (Neil Creek) make no claims of ownership or copyright. By submitting a link to your photo, you grant me the right to include a copy of the photo, or a thumbnail of the photo in future posts on the blog (Neil Creek – Photographer) for the purposes of conducting the project, or to be used as an illustrative example in other future blog posts, or for the promotion of this project elsewhere on the blog or on other sites not controlled by me. In all cases all photos displayed for any purpose will be properly attributed and links will be provided to the creator where possible. The exception to the attribution obligation is on the submissions and voting pages, where the images are displayed anonymously for the purpose of conducting a fair vote. You also agree to allow me to place advertising on pages on this blog where your photo appears for the purposes of promoting a prize sponsor, or general advertising on the site, without any compensation. Judges’ decisions are final. Prizes are not redeemable to cash or any other form. Neil Creek is not responsible for any problems that occur as a result of entering this competition, including but not limited to: eye strain or injury, damage to or loss of the prizes in transit, dissatisfaction with the prize, incompatibilities of the prize and your camera equipment. It is the winner’s responsibility to provide Loreo with accurate information about their camera for the purpose of being sent the appropriate 3D lens. All questions regarding the prizes themselves should be directed to loreo.com. The information collected as part of this project (including name, email, postal address etc) will be used only for the purposes of running the competition. This information will be provided to Loreo in order to send out the gifts and prize, but will not be retained by Loreo for any other purposes. Your information will never be sold or given to third parties. By clicking submit on the form above, you acknowledge that you have read, understand and agree to these terms.