Saint Petersburg in Early Stereophotographs

The principle behind creating a virtual three-dimensional image is the projection of two flat photographs, taken from slightly different angles, onto the retinas of the eyes. Such a projection can be formed directly in human perception by using specific viewing techniques for stereoscopic pairs, or with the help of dedicated equipment: the stereoscope. A stereoscopic pair is inserted into the device, and during viewing each eye perceives only the image intended for it, thereby producing the stereoscopic effect.

“The stereoscope is the television of the 19th century.” This is perhaps the best way to describe the role stereophotography once played as a medium of mass communication — serving simultaneously as a source of information and entertainment. A stereoscope and sets of stereocards for every taste were an essential part of nearly every household, a way to pass the time or amuse guests. The stereoscope didn't go out of fashion, from the early 1850s up until the end of the First World War. 

Stereophotography was accessible to amateurs, as stereocameras were inexpensive and easy to use compared with other photographic equipment. The invention of the stereoscopic camera made it possible to bring everyday life into photography and opened the door to capturing moving subjects.

The growing popularity of stereoscopic views led to the commercialization of the medium. By the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, numerous companies had emerged specializing in the production and sale of stereophotographs.