When I was vintage shopping at the beach the other weekend, I found a box of stereographic cards in one of the antique stores. I had never seen photographs like these before. The lady behind the counter informed me that these cards were designed to be used with a stereoscope, which gives the viewer a 3-D image. I was charmed by the stereographic cards and ended up buying a couple. The above photo is of Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland. I picked this particular photo because I was mesmerized by the majestic scenery, and I guess I wasn't the only one. When researching this beautiful Alpine village online, I found out that it was the inspiration for J.R.R. Tolkien's Elven valley, Rivendell. Very cool!
On the backs of the cards are descriptions of the images. Some read more like stories than formal summaries. Here is the text accompanying the Bluebird's Nest photo.
I find it intriguing that 100 years later, 3-D images are a fad again. More and more, newly released movies are being viewed in 3-D. I expect to see museums move in this direction, creating virtual tours of architectural and sculptural masterpieces. On the Louvre's website, there is an "Explore in 3D" section. Here's the link to the page if you want to check it out.
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