Stereoscopy is Good For You: Life in 3-D

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Viewed in the 21st century OWL stereoscope (included), the magical pictures, and the journey they represent, are revealed in their full depth and splendour. The variety provides something new and interesting on every page, and it is beautifully bound with an excellent image on the front. While getting books signed by Brian May, visitors will also have the opportunity to explore the wonders of the exhibition – “Stereoscopy Is Good For You: Life in 3-D”.

The story begins in 1832, when Wheatstone, a true Victorian genius and polymath, discovered why creatures such as humans have two eyes instead of one, and how this enables them instantaneously to perceive their surroundings in depth – a massive evolutionary advantage.It is not just a collection of photographs of nature, people, pets, architecture, and more, but a tangible, dimensional assemblage that speaks to the evocative power of stereoscopic photography. Viewing the stereoscopic work of others, we find ourselves completely transported to the place and time when their picture was taken. This show exhibits new 3-D photography from the LSC’s latest publication “Stereoscopy Is Good For You: Life in 3-D”.

The book is set to become a lasting testament to the evocative power and joy of 3-D photography, reinforcing Brian’s unshakeable conviction that Stereoscopy is Good For You! In Brian May’s own words, and over 300 previously unseen 3-D photographs, this book is a series of glimpses of life with the rock band Queen, seen from the inside for the first time.

May, who has a PhD in astrophysics, is in the process of acquiring another set of images that will make his collection of stereos the biggest in the world. In Brian May’s own words, and over 300 previously unseen 3-D photographs, this book is a series of glimpses of life with the rock band Queen, seen from the inside for the first time. As it turned out, most of the people who submitted work are represented in some way, but of course some people put in irresistible work, so were featured more than once.

The pictures and self-penned text tell the story of Brian’s discovery of the world of stereoscopy as a boy, and chronicle Queen from the early 1970s all the way to the present day.The images were of two photographs of the same subject, taken from viewpoints about the same distance apart as human eyes. When you look with your stereo viewer it’s as if you’re seeing through the eyes of the person who took the picture. He was denied his proper place, other people claimed that they had invented it, and some of those falsehoods survived until quite recently,” said May. Queen guitarist Brian May tells Geoff Harris how the pandemic inspired people worldwide to take great stereo photography. You feel this rush of cold air, hear the crunch of the snow, sense the horses… We did consider it as a cover for the book, but went with the monarch butterfly, which we also love.

Some snapped the newly appreciated beauty of their immediate surrounding landscapes on permitted walks.In the introduction to the book, Brian notes how fascinating it was to see how so many of the photographers sent an apology for the quality of their work alongside their entry. There are some fantastic images in the book as you can see here (they are best viewed with Brian’s Owl viewer, available here). This is a unique display, inviting visitors to delve into the magic of stereoscopy from the Victorian era to the present, culminating with a captivating display of images from the modern-day stereo community. Brian, creator of the 21st-century incarnation of the London Stereoscopic Company (LSC), has become an Internet evangelist for 3-D photography in recent years. For Brian May, a 10-year-old boy who would grow up to become a rock superstar with Queen, it resulted in a lifelong fascination with stereoscopy.