COPACABANA RIO

Copacabana, the famous beach in Rio de Janeiro becomes on New Years Eve, the largest party in the world.

2.5 million people gather at the beach to celebrate the New Year.

The party goes on all night with hundreds of shows and events along the beach.

VR Photo © AYRTON

NÜRNBERG CHRISTKINDLESMARKT
5 PANORAMAS

VR Photo © Hans Nyberg

VR Photo © Willy Kaemena

Willy Kaemena works currently in Syria for a German Company and in his free time he travels Syria to see all the historical places. See more panoramas from Syria, Portugal, Malaysia, Manila, Bangkok at his website.

The Great Ummayyad Mosque in Damascus is one of the worlds oldest, largest mosques and one of the most important Islamic architectural buildings in the world.

Originally at the place there was a temple to Hadad from 3000 BC.

Later a temple to Jupiter and in 379 AD a Church of St. John the Baptist.

From 636 and more than 70 years it was shared with Moslems who used the south wall as a mosque.

The present mosque was built by Ummayad Caliph Al-Walid from 708-715. The Christians got compensation with four churches at other places within the old city.

However other investigations of old texts claim that the Christians and the Moslems built the Church and the Mosque independently.

Anyhow it has been used as an example of Christian/Muslim partnership and that the "intolerance of Islam" against other religions that we see today in many areas was not practiced originally.

Perhaps today's Islamic fundamentalists should learn their history.

Links:

www.muslimheritage.com Ummayyad Mosque

Wikipedia Umayyad Mosque

Plan of the mosque

Nov 7

VR Photo © Laurent Thion

Together with the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe is one of the world's most well-known Landmarks.

The arch was originally ordered by Napoleon in 1806 but was not completed until 1836 during the reign of Louis-Philippe.

After the first World War the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers was installed beneath the arc.

From the top of the Arc de Triomphe you have a great view of Paris and can look down the Champs-Élysées with it's luxuary Hotels and restaurants.

The Arc de Triomphe is one of a series of panoramas Laurent Thion has made for the Seattle game company Big Fish Games

The game Travelogue 360 Paris is the first 360 degree game based on spherical interactive panoramas. It was released Nov 3 and until Dec 20 you can participate in a contest to win a free 6 day tour for two to Paris. (only for US residents)

View some of the other panoramas from the game in Fullscreen QTVR at www.ecliptique.com

Links: L'Arc de Triomphe Wikipedia

Oct 30

VR Photo © Stefan Linnerhag

Åre is one of the most well known ski resorts in Sweden (right now they have 45 cm snow) but it is also nice in summer.

During the last years Mountain Biking as many other adventure sports and active vacations has become popular and in Åre you can combine it all with an amazing nature as the spectacular view in Stefan's panorama.

The view is from Hummeln which is the Bike Park at 900 meters height.

A cable car or chairlifts takes you up.

Hummeln is also said to be one of Swedens best places for Paragliding.

Links:

Åre Bike Park

Oct 24

VR Photo © Hubert Pawlowski

A couple of months ago Hubert Pawlowski saw an interactive QTVR for the first time at panoramas.dk. Hubert is an architectural designer and has photography only as his hobby. The panoramas at panoramas.dk fascinated him and he decided to try it himself.

This panorama which is one of his first was made above Lake of Annecy in France east of Lyon and not far from Geneve.

It is an example which shows that you do not need expensive cameras, lenses or panoramaheads to do amazing interactive panoramas.

This panorama is a multirow panorama stitched together from 30 images.

Hubert used a Canon 350D with a Sigma 17/35mm (standard 18-55 could do same). The very cheap Panosaurus pano-head, and a Manfrotto 190DB tripod.

software: PTGui (€ 65), Pano2QTVR (free) , Photoshop Elements ( free with camera)

More links to technical resources: VR Photography-how to

Hubert submitted the panorama to the World Wide Panorama event a panoramic event which takes place 4 times a year at the solstices.

The last event Transportation is just published with more than 300 contributions from photographers all over the world.

Rio de Janeiro - view from Corcovado

Oct 10 2006

The view from the statue of Christ above the city of Rio de Janeiro is world famous. The 710 meter mountain of Corcovado is crowned by the statue of Christ the Redeemer, which is 30 meters high and has a 8 meter pedestal with a chapel in honor of the Lady of Aparecida, patron Saint of Brazil.

On Thursday 12 october 2006 the statue celebrates its 75 year birthday.

The Catholic Church in Brazil has announced that they will mark the day by opening the small chapel below the statue for religious ceremonies such as baptisms and weddings.

Links:

Rio opens its arms to weddings · Wikipedia Corcovado · Rio de Janeiro Tourism site