stereograph

photography

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July 14, 2026

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Stereoscopy, often called 3-D, is the science and technology of creating two-dimensional images that appear three-dimensional when viewed by both eyes. This effect is possible due to binocular vision, where the brain combines slightly different images from each eye to perceive depth.

Stereoscopic photographs, or stereographs, are produced in pairs, with each image taken from a slightly different angle to mimic how our eyes see an object. These pairs are then viewed using a device called a stereoscope, which ensures each eye sees only its corresponding image. This technology was very popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries for both education and entertainment.1

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history of photography
Development of stereoscopic photography
Stereoscopic photographic views (stereographs) were immensely popular in the United States and Europe from about the mid-1850s through the early years of the 20th century. First described in 1832 by English physicist Sir Charles Wheatstone, stereoscopy was improved by Sir David Brewster in 1849. The production of the…
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Stereoscopic photographic views (stereographs) were immensely popular in the United States and Europe from about the mid-1850s through the early years of the 20th century. First described in 1832 by English physicist Sir Charles Wheatstone, stereoscopy was improved by Sir David Brewster in 1849. The production of the…
Read More