When we returned from our trip to Paris, I called my friend Ernie Rairdin to see if he was interested in helping me complete our DSEC (Digital Stereo Exchange Club) photo exchange that I hadn’t finished up before we left. He didn’t answer but he called the next day when I was at the craft store looking for some albums to put our vacation pictures in.
He wanted to stop by and show me something he got at the annual convention of 3D fans that he had just returned from. I said I wasn’t home so he suggested I stop at his house which is more or less on the way home.
When I got there we talked a little bit about our trip then he said that when he was at the convention awards banquet, the speaker started reading from a plaque. He said, “NSA (National Stereoscopic Association) 2009 Lou Smaus Award, Best Stereo World Article on Modern Stereoscopy – Robert Thorpe – `The Cedar Rapids Flood of 2008′, Stereo World Vol 34, Number 1”
I was floored. I had not had any indication of this whatsoever. Ernie said the speaker said that I couldn’t be there, so Ernie volunteered to accept the award for me. Thank you Ernie.
When I wrote the article, it was only a few days after the flood. I had called the editor of the magazine and he said he would hold the presses for the next issue for the late breaking pictures. I dashed off the article and sent him a dozen or so pictures I took during the flood. I also got Ernie to let me send another dozen or so pictures that he took. His were aerial views in hyper stereo and were just astonishing.
They didn’t just print a page of pictures, they published the whole article with a selection of both our photos. One of Ernie’s got the cover of the magazine.
I feel a little sheepish getting the award. I think all too often the contributors of visual content get shortchanged to the benefit of the writers. This can especially be the case in photo or art magazines. I consider Ernie’s contribution to be equal to my own in this situation and I want to make sure he is given the credit he is due.
Congratulations Butch and Ernie! Ernie’s aerial pictures really were amazing.
Congrats!!! Where can I find the pictures?? LLR
Congratulations! How sweet it is to be recognized for your work!
Congratulations! Both Ernie’s and your photos were great. Much deserved!
Shut up Butch. You earned it. Congrats.–John
I felt you had both done a very admiral job of capturing the magnitude of the flood. oongrats on a job well done!!
Very cool! Congrats!
I have the coolest brother.
This is just fantastic news. Those pictures were really good. Way to go on Ernie as well.
Congrats dude!
pp-2 a convention of 3-d fans from which he had just returned. sorry, i lost (3-d) focus. great job!!!
bunzoid.
Very well done nephew of mine – clever – or what ? Well it runs in the family !!!!!
You talented ol’ dog you!
I have always known you were a genius. By the way, you look just like my beautiful grandson Sagen in the header of your blog. He is also a genius.
You DO look like Sagen in the header (or he looks like you). He has always reminded me of you anyway. LUCKILY I will still be his mom when he learns about tickle time so I won’t have to worry about it as much.