On Saturday 25th November 2023 Clifton Bridge and The Brian May Archive of Stereoscopy are offering workshops showing participants how to take their own 3-D photos with their smartphones, and afterwards Denis Pellerin, co-curator of The Brian May Archive of Stereoscopy will give a 3-D presentation to take viewers back to the Victorian era.

Stereoscopic 3-D with a Smartphone: Free – Preorder your own Lite OWL viewer for £5

The Victorian phenomenon of Stereoscopy was an early form of virtual reality that allowed our ancestors to experience places all over the world as if they had been standing there at the moment the shutter snapped.
Learn from the experts

Join Rebecca Sharpe and Denis Pellerin, co-curators of the Brian May Archive of Stereoscopy, as they reveal the theory and practice of the wonderful process of stereoscopic photography, showing you how it is possible to take stunning and life-like 3D pictures using the same technique as the pioneer stereo-photographers.

After an introduction to the technique, you will get the chance to go out and experiment with your smartphone, then come back to create your own stereoscopic photos with amazing depth. No special equipment is required: you’ll just need to bring your phone.

Once you’ve taken your photos, use your Lite OWL viewer (or borrow one of Clifton Bridge’s) to view the images you have taken. You’ll also see various ways of displaying stereoscopic images and will be able to handle original Victorian viewers, using them to explore 3D photos from our own historic collections.

Five sessions will run every 20 minutes from 11.30am on Saturday 25th November. Bookings can be made on the Clifton Bridge website.

3-D Talk: ‘Stereoscopy – A Victorian Phenomenon’ £6 per person, see below

Peering into a small, magical box, an eager audience in the 1850s was transported into another dimension. Stereoscopic 3-D images allowed them to experience the wonders of the world without ever leaving their fireside, see the heroes of the day in realistic detail, enjoy sentimental scenes or watch the construction of Brunel’s Clifton Suspension Bridge. Millions of images were published and voraciously consumed by the public in just a few glorious years.

Join photo historian Denis Pellerin, co-curator of the Brian May Archive of Stereoscopy, and discover how these remarkable images were captured, experiencing not only Clifton Suspension Bridge as the Victorians would have viewed it, but also other famous bridges and landmarks, ordinary and famous people, glimpses into the daily lives of the Victorians and humorous or romantic staged scenes.

Time: 2-3pm Saturday 25th November., £6 per person. Booking is available on the Clifton Bridge website.

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