Time for Worldwide Panorama again

The next event "COLOR" is about to start next week from 18. to 23. September 2008 during the upcoming equinox. Exactly at that time I will be back home in Germany for a couple of weeks. Looking forward to do my first "home" contribution after 7 contributions made somewhere in AsiaPac. Still need to work on this topic. (link)

Kandooma Getaway day 3

This island is 35 hectares! After 20min you return to the same spot going along the beach. The island a bit deserted in a off-peak period with 30 people around. On the third day I start feeling like the chap in the Castaway movie ! Wonder how you feel without the luxurious stuff around you.

Kandooma paranormal

Awesome ! A last minute trip to Maldives, only planned 2 days in advance while getting some extra good price. I didnt expect this level of comfort with plamsa tv, ocean view (actually in the ocean), wireless and Ipod docking station. So this is "live" panorama. I brought the snapsnap V705 and the 1Ds, so some decent panos are in the pipeline. Here some stitch-on-the-spot with Kodak V705.
Incase you want to drop by: www.kandooma-maldives.com

Gigapan Marina Keppelbay

A recent short fieldtrip brought me to Labrador Nature Reserve Park. A handheld shot showing Marina Keppelbay, Reflections at Keppelbay, Sentosa Gateway and more.
Canon 1Ds with 24-105 L IS @ 105, 25 images
125MPixel, 32.500 x 3.800 pixel

Singapore greens spots disappearing

More and more green spots, or little areas of grass in midst of the city, that provide some air and space to breathe, are disappearing. The city, in an attempt to become the ultimate metropole, is busy filling up all these "gaps" with concrete, steel and glass shopping-centre cum condo to compete with Hong Kong. Specifically I liked this green area around Rochor Road, in front of Parkview Square (wikipedia link). It was unchanged since I came to Singapore in 2002, but now finally URA decided to cash in this prime area.

Singapore Graffity is alive

..sometimes. I love it as an urban art form, even I dont really need to have it on everything like in Europe (buses,cars,trains,windows,..). But in Singapore there is such a lack of it (due to heavy fines), that its a delight to see some at least occasionally. Wonder how long it takes before they remove it.

Panoramic Vivocity

Biggest Shopping Mall (as per area) in Singapore and maybe in SE Asia. The usual look and feel, but the architectural features are more curved, round or organic, as the expert says.
Nice location, at the back side you can loiter around outside while having a beer at Brotzeit (german restaurant/pub) and enjoy the view to Sentosa Island, which is nothing more than a big construction site at the moment, thanks to the upcoming casinos, uhm.. Integrated Resort.

Advertising Imagery

Slightly off-topic, but I need to share this with you. It always amuses me the kind of works of photography (mixed with some Photoshop) is displayed in advertising or on the box of a product. I wonder sometimes if someone earns money or just get fired with something like this. I bought a 30$ ladder and it was shrinkwrapped including a this true piece of art:
Besides the description "Famlly Stair cnse" which most probably means "Family Staircase" (which also doesnt really match the product), the image striked me in particular !
A ladder arranged in photoshop together with a globe on a green field. What do they want to tell us with this ? This ladder is bigger than earth ? You can climb on top of the globe ? You will feel like being at a green field together with your new staircase and a globe ?
We will not find out ....
Btw, I would love to appreciate the IP of this work and mention the copyright, but the product is not showing one sign who is producing the ladder and this awful picture. In case you know, let me know.

Panoramic Berlin II

Some remaining shots before I left Berlin. Great City, a lot to see and great summer time atmosphere. Check out these V705 pans from the S-Bahn, Der Reichstag and Potsdamer Platz.

Worldwide Panorama 06-2008 online !

The 19th worldwidepanorama event and the second for this year is online. Please visit at geoimiges.berkeley.edu/worldwidepanorama/wwp608. My contribution covers the Henderson Waves in Southern Singapore. (link)

Panoramic Berlin

A short biz trip brought me to Berlin, the german capital. Have not been here for some years, it changed quite a lot, specifically the eastern part of the city and the area around the "wall". I brought only the Kodak V705 along, but regretting that I dont carry the bigger equipment to make some nice panos. Anyway not much time to explore, maybe next time. Here some shots around the new Central Station and the government buildings.

Going anaglyph !

I was always amazed by this 50 (?) old way of looking at pictures and movies and creating a sense of depth by cheating eyes and brain with the 2 merged images with the "red/cyan" look. I am not elaborating on how and when it was invented or how it exactly it works, but will experiment with the technique and plan to experiment in the panorama field with this. Lets start small with a simple 2 camera setup, 15 cents red/cyan glasses and some photoshop work. I bought a box with 100 paper red/cyan glasses, so my local readers, let me know and you can have one (terms and condition apply, haha).

Upgrading to Nodalninja

I am waiting for the latest Nodalninja model, No.5. It seems this is gonna be a sturdy panorama VR head capable to take heavy equipment, and I will use it with Mamiya ZD to produce some serious highres images. Anyway, the version with the upper rotator is not released yet, so I can spend some time on other experiments in the meantime. Check out the gear at www.nodalninja.com.

Extreme PanoRig

My very own panorama rig project collects dust since half a year, but it is certainly not off. I also will continue to play with 360 degree video with the one-shot lens setup and the videocam, but in case you want to see some serious stuff, then you should have a look at 2k360 by Paradise FX (link). Dont forget to download the demo movie ! There is no pricetag, but there are some 9 HDR pro cams mounted on a rig, and if you have close look, you will see 9 Apple Powerbooks underneath it. That must be a cool toy, maybe a bit too big to carry along.
I will keep you updated on my budget projects !

Invitation to SingaporeVR.com

Today I want to highlight a website of another VR fellow in Singapore. He shares on almost daily base new VR spots around town ! Man, I wish I had more time.
Drop by www.SingaporeVr.com and the blog at singaporevr.blogspot.com !
Thanks Aram !