A guest at the opening reception enjoys Carman’s work on an antique stereoscope.

Like Victorians in their parlors, we gazed through antique stereoscopes at Charles Carman’s photographs of familiar Andes houses suddenly seeing them in 3-D. Families in the yards stood out in vivid relief. We slid card after card into the wire slot, pressed our foreheads to the fitted eyepieces, and marveled. Some were transported to childhood hours spent with the ‘scope and card case, others exclaimed, “Hey! Just like a Viewmaster!”The captivated crowd at the opening of the CHARLES CARMAN: ANDES PHOTOGRAPHER show at the Hunting Tavern Museum on September 1st enjoyed a multi-media experience. We watched digitized turn-of-the-century photos on a screen, then compared original Carman prints from 1875-1910 with  modern shots of the same houses, courtesy of the Andes Camera Club under the direction of its president, Sal Marino. “Isn’t that the Sprague house? Look how it’s changed!”  Many took advantage of a vintage Victorian photographer’s backdrop for an old-fashioned portrait by current Andes photographer, Barbara Raggi.An extensive catalog provides a biography of Carman (1831-1910), 11 of his stereographic views of Andes residences with a history of each, and a handy pull-out of the 1879 Beers map with markers to locate these houses today. Andes resident Alan Galowitz initiated and curated the show with support from volunteers from the Society for History and Culture and donations from individuals and local businesses. Adding to the ambiance of the opening reception were platters of delectable refreshments, punch, and wine.