The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines photography as:
“the art or process of producing images by the action of radiant energy and especially light on a sensitive surface (as film or an optical sensor)”
So I ask you, are 3D portraits photography? Let’s review how 3D Scanning with a Kinect controller works. First, infrared light is projected to the subject, while another camera reads that light (So radiant energy is being read on a sensitive surface!). However from here’ there is a large amount of computer processing that gets involved. The Kinect data is processed by the computer, so that distance measurements are applied to thousands of points of light as they hit the subject. ReconstructMe software then turns that into a 3D model.
So is it photography? Photography+? What do you think?
PS: Our Kickstarter is up to 69% thanks to a very generous donation from Funny Garbage, among many others. The goal is within reach! Back us today to get your own 3D portrait!
Frederick G. Kahl 