Depth Perception--3D imaging, via xkcd Options

[Floyd]

Ever look at clouds and can't quit grasp their size--well check out xkcd's "Depth Perception" for a solution

[algorimancer]

I've long thought that would be a nifty thing to do, just more trouble than it's worth (I'd get bored with the video pretty quickly, I think). About 20-25 years ago I borrowed a friend's Canon AE1 to pair with my own, and did something very similar to this using the timer function (still-only, no video). Sadly, this was at a time when there were no puffy clouds to be found, just a couple of high layers of thin sheets of cloud, so it was less than satisfying. I still have the pics somewhere.

[machi]

I tried this, but very long baseline (between both cameras) is needed (> 100 meters).
These images were taken with different cameras with baseline ~100 meters.

Attached thumbnail(s)

 

[Floyd]

I'm not the least surprised that multiple UMSFers have tried this. Looks like the author of xkcd would fit right in here.

[RJG]

I've taken some pretty striking 3D pairs of clouds and mountains from the air by letting the plane transport me from the left eye to the right eye position. I guess the baseline tends to be several hundreds of metres given the time my point and shoot camera takes to ready itself for the next image. I suppose I could grab frames from a movie but I like the enhance 3D effect you get from a long baseline.

It needs a window seat -obviously!- and the order of the image depends on whether you have a port or starboard window. It helps to pass the time and somehow justifies gazing out of the window...

Rob

[charborob]

I tried that same technique many years ago, and I got some interesting 3D aerial views of the Canadian Rockies.

[bill davis]

Long time lurker - first time poster.
Here are some examples of extremely long baseline stereo pairs and as you can see it is very effective.




http://www.flickr.com/photos/billdavis6959

[ngunn]

Just wanted to say I'm delighted to see this thread and hugely appreciate all the images posted. For a long time I too have been dreaming of doing this on Earth, Titan, Venus, Jupiter . . . As a child I discovered that it's easier to 'see' cloudscapes in 3D if you turn your head upside down. The brain seems better at interpreting a cloud 'floor' than a cloud 'ceiling'. When I'm painting skies I usually work with the painting upside down at least part of the time. Somebody should publish a book of 3D cloudscapes. It would help artists - and everyone - understand skies better.

Maybe someone at the Cloud Appreciation Society is already onto this. They have a lot more members around the world than we have. Is anybody here also a member there? http://cloudappreciationsociety.org/

[machi]

Long time lurker - first time poster.
Here are some examples of extremely long baseline stereo pairs and as you can see it is very effective.
.
.

Very nice 3D pairs! Is it photographed from airplane?

"Maybe someone at the Cloud Appreciation Society is already onto this. They have a lot more members around the world than we have. Is anybody here also a member there? http://cloudappreciationsociety.org/"

Another nerdish Society, thanks for link!

[RJG]

Thanks for the link to the Cloud Appreciation Society!

A glorious galley of cloud photographs - and only a fiver for a membership certificate and a badge! How could I resist?

Rob

[bill davis]

Those pairs are from the ISS. Sorry to bring up banned subject "The Gateway to Astronaut Photography of the Earth".

[machi]

Thanks for answer.
Manned spaceflight is banned, not photographs.