Brian May, the legendary guitarist of Queen and accomplished scientist, has made a poignant announcement about the future of his lifelong passion for stereoscopic photography — a “gift to the nation” inspired by his reflections on mortality.
Marking International Stereoscopy Day on June 21, the 77-year-old musician shared a heartfelt message on Instagram about the Brian May Archive of Stereoscopy (BMAS). Now a charitably incorporated organisation, the archive holds much of May’s extensive collection of stereoscopic images. “When I pass on to the next place, it will own all of it,” he revealed in a video and detailed caption reported by the Express.
May’s vision for BMAS is clear and deeply meaningful: “My hope in creating this archive is that it will be able to sustain itself after I’ve gone, keeping intact the greatest (and only!) archive of stereoscopic photography in Britain. It will be a gift to the Nation.”
Stereoscopy — a 3D photographic technique developed in the Victorian era by Sir Charles Wheatstone — has captivated May since he first discovered a stereoscopic card in a Weetabix box at age 12. His fascination blossomed alongside his academic pursuits; while studying astronomy at Imperial College in the late 1960s, May began passionately assembling a collection of stereo views dating back to the 1850s. These gems often surfaced in Christie’s auctions, pulled from forgotten lofts and garages.
In 2008, May revitalised his love for the art form by relaunching The London Stereoscopic Company, dedicated to bringing the magic of authentic stereoscopy to a modern audience. He even designed his own OWL stereoscope to enhance the viewing experience.
By 2017, he merged his musical and photographic worlds with the release of Queen in 3D, a book featuring stereoscopic images of the band captured by May himself over the decades. His dedication has resulted in eight published works related to stereo photography under his London Stereoscopic Company label.
Reflecting on why stereoscopy holds such enduring appeal, May said, “Once you’ve been bitten by 3-D images you will never want to go back to flat pictures!”
As Brian May looks ahead, his archive promises to preserve and share this unique visual heritage for generations to come — a lasting testament to a lifelong passion, and a touching legacy beyond the stage.
