NSA Convention July, 2004 - Portland, Oregon

There was a different Double Tree Hotel on each side of the freeway. NSA's 30th Annual Convention was at one of them, but which one?  We made our choice and proceeded ahead. Driving into the parking lot at the eastern choice, and seeing cars with license plates reading 3D-PHOTO and 3D3D3D told us we were in the right place.

 Even though two days later, the parking lot was overwhelmed with Model A Fords, this beautiful hotel, just 50 paces away from the shores of the Columbia River, separating Portland, Oregon from the state of Washington, was home to the greatest concentration on earth of 3D enthusiasts, at least for the next four days.

The weather was great, and clear - evidenced by the fact that one could clearly see both Mt. St. Helens and Mt. Hood volcanoes, both on the same day.

The attendance at recent NSA National Conventions may have trimmed down to half its size, but with an expanded time for lectures, demonstrations, and workshops, the Convention offered the stereo-phile more events for the mind and eyes than ever before, or at least not since the Atlanta NSA/ISU twin conventions in 1994.

NSA conventions seem to have gone back to their roots, comprised of mainly stereo card collectors and dealers offering vast amounts of stereo cards for ones collections.  Gone are the big vintage equipment and 3D collectible dealers with their elaborate well stocked room-hopping suites and rows of tables piled neat and high with goodies at the Trade Fair.  Gone are the local collectors, showing up with what seemed like a garage full of raw treasures.

To the frequent convention  attendee, the noticeable changes were new equipment dealers giving workshops on how to use the products they sell, and a Trade Fair with representatives from around the globe, presenting their products for the conventioneer's perusal.  Representatives from Japan, China, Belgium, as well as a host of new American products were on display.

Hits of the Trade Fair were the unveiling of the new 2Q medium format viewer, and a peak at the prototype medium format camera soon to be produced - sure to boost medium format stereo photography; a stereo digital twin camera outfit that takes a picture and prints out a stereo pair, insertable into a folding paper viewer - sure to inspire many a sidewalk photographer and small business entrepreneur; and a twin digital camera synchronizer for synchronized stereo shots.

There were over 40 Stereo Theatre presentations by 36 different artists and lecturers, outstanding in quality and relevance. Additionally, there were 11 informative workshops, which have been growing in popularity and attendance each successive year.

But the true difference in this NSA annual convention was the staff of volunteers who put on one of the best run and well organized conventions. Facilities, coordination, the lenticular covered program guide, souvenir reels, and staff assistance were all exemplary.

The Portland convention will surely be remembered as enjoyable and stimulating gathering, and every attendee surely left with hopes of doing it again in Irving, Texas in 2005.