I was after a super simple tagging system for panoramas that alowed visitors to “tag” comments to points of interest within the panoramas.

This will also work with Gigapixel panoramas.

I have now cut through 12 Sigma 10mm hoods with only 1 casualty. The problem is the hoods are made of quite thick aluminum so care must be taken. The hood is only 2 mm from the lens so a hacksaw is out the question so I bought this bench drill and grinding disc specifically for this task.

BE VERY CAREFUL – the filings will get between the casing and the lens and STOP the focus from working! – Blow away filings as you go AND at the end test the focus with the lens facing the floor so any loose filings work outwards rather than further into the lens.

http://www.toursfromabove.com

Quote from Google Maps Mania

“Luckily it is the weekend, which means you can probably afford to have your attention consumed by Tours From Above.

Tours From Above is a showcase for some of the world’s best aerial panoramic photographers and some of the most amazing 360 degree panoramas you will ever see. The site uses Google Maps to show you the locations of aerial panoramas. These panoramas allow you to view oceans, forests, waterfalls and some of the world’s cities in a way that you have never seen them before.

It is truly breathtaking to view New York’s skyscrapers in a 360 degree panorama taken from the air. If you get bored of New York you can use the Google Map to fly over to Zambia to view a gorgeous panorama of the Victoria Falls from above.

I’m not going to waste any more of your time talking about Tours From Above. You are going to need all the time you can spare to view these amazing panoramas. So, go visit!:

I am always looking for a quicker way to get the lat and lon for use in google maps – most sites are just too in depth to visit, just to copy the co-ords.

This is a simple way of getting them really quick – GET LAT LONG

Gigapixel Images using a DSLR have just been made easier with today’s launch of the Gigapan Epic Pro – It takes Cameras up-to 10 pounds.

I have just returned form a Quick trip to Sydney and Melbourne to capture the skies above both cities – Over 60 aerial panoramas in 2 hours flight including places like the Olympic Village, Opera House, MCG, Bondi Beach, Docklands and many others – Here are some links:

www.pixelcase.com.au/vr/melbourne

www.pixelcase.com.au/vr/sydney

I also experimented with HDR Aerials using a modified BIOS hack which forced 3 brackets in 1/5th of a second – you will see that at Maquarie Lighthouse in Sydney. The first of its kind in the world I`m sure.

I have finally finished the design and construction of 5D MK2 Camera Rig capable of producing single shot aerial panoramics and HD 360 video – On early test it is also good at producing ground based 1 shot VR as well although a little heavy. This test I took to the skies of Perth with Brett (www.pixelcase.com.au) to get some aerial footage. You can see a couple of shots here. This is Mrk 4 Version of Rig using 5 Canons.

I am a fan of Apple stuff… but I am also glad that Windows/Google are snapping at their heels once more. Manufacturers have noticed that the iPads serious flaw is the lack of Flash and Apples refusal to acknowledge it.

Flash is the single best thing that has happened to the panoramic industry in, well, ever.. So I suggest we tell everyone to get an ISlate from HP who are happy to collaborate with Adobe.

Not only will you be able to produce virtual tours for the web – but developers will be able to produce AIR (Virtual tour apps) – that will run on all windows, all normal macs and now the iSlate.

http://lancut.spacerywirtualne.pl/

Your Name:
Pablo & Pietero

Company website:
www.spacerywirtualne.pl

What is the subject of the tour?
One of the most beautiful aristocratic residences in Poland

How Many people worked on this tour?
1-5

What photographic Equipment did you use?
Canon 5DMII, Canon 15mm, Nodal Ninja 5 RD16, Imagination

What Software did you find most useful?
PTGui, Krpano, PS

Claimed to be one of the first 360 Degree Music Videos – small language warning

MacFadden became known thru the Los Angeles-based rap group Unity Council , and debuted on vinyl on the B-side of Unity Panel’s 1993 single, “Unified Rebelution”.

The track, “Lesson 4 : The Radio” was an ovation of Double Dee and Steinski’s “Lessons 1-3.”. Preceding the vinyl release, Unity Board formed Jurassic five, together with another group, Rebels of Rhythm. McFadden gave avidly to the group, adding “Lesson six : The Lecture” to Jurassic 5′s eponymous EP, and co-producing the totality of the record. From late 1996 to early 1997, Cut Chemist recorded his album debut, Live at Future Primitive Sound Session, with Shortkut of Invisibl Skratch Piklz. According to the official Jurassic five internet site, McFadden didn’t appear on their latest album Feedback. In May 2006, he indicated to Poster advertisement magazine that he has left the group.[2]. Cut Chemist has additionally produced the track ‘Radio Friendly’ for Canadian rapper intestinal’s solo album. Cut Chemist made an appearance in the 2007 comedy Juno, playing a school chemistry teacher, playing on his “chemist” stage-name.

Cut Chemist joined DJ Shade on a world wide tour to support their new mix “The Hard Sell” starting in early 2008. Kid Koala will be touring and opening for them.

Cut Chemist is featured in the prize winning documentary “This is the Life ( film ),” chronicling the music movement which was birthed at The Good Life Cafeteria in South Central LA. The Good Life is the open-mic workshop where he first performed with Unity Committee in the early 1990s and launched Jurassic five.

The 2010 Haitian tremor was a disastrous magnitude 7.0 Mw tremor.

Its epicentre was near Logne, roughly twenty-five km  west of Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti. The tremor took place at 16:53 local time  on Tues. , twelve January 2010, at a depth of 13 km. The tremor caused significant damage to Port-au-Prince, Jacmel and other settlements in the region.

Many important landmark buildings were noticeably damaged or demolished, including the Presidential Palace ( President Ren Prval, who was in the building at the time, escaped injury ), the nation’s Assembly building, the Port-au-Prince Cathedral, and the main jail. Many states responded to appeals for humanitarian help, promising funds and dispatching rescue and medical teams, engineers and support staff. Port-au-Prince’s morgues were quickly overwhelmed ; the Haitian government voiced on twenty-one Jan that over eighty thousand bodies had been buried in mass graves. As rescues tailed off, supplies, medical therapy and sanitation became concerns.

Delays in help distribution led straight to annoyed appeals from aid staff and survivors, and some pillaging and infrequent violence was noted.

http://www.wolfcounselor.com/panoramas/villisca/slides/virtual_tour.html

This tour has been added to flash360 mainly due to its ambience. If you view with headphones at night it really works in its creepyness.

Does anyone else know any “horror virtual tours”?   I could get into this

Your Name:
Randy Myers

Company website:

What is the subject of the tour?
Villisca Ax Murder House

How Many people worked on this tour?
Just Me!

What photographic Equipment did you use?
Nikon D300, Sigma 8mm f/3.5 Circular Fisheye, Nodal Ninja, Manfrotto tripod

What Software did you find most useful?
Flashpanoramas, Photoshop, Photomatix, PTGui, Pano2QTVR

http://www.enterview.fr/monte/carlo.htm

Your Name:
Christophe Bouthe

What is the subject of the tour?
Monaco

How Many people worked on this tour?
1-5

What photographic Equipment did you use?
Aerial photos with Canon 450D and ground photos with Canon 5D mkII. Tokina 10/17mm

What Software did you find most useful?
PTGui – FPP

After scaling Monaco’s steep terraced steps, glossy escalators and shining marble corridors tunnelling thru the rocks to a collection of free public lifts running up and down the hillside ( not to mention crossing the 3D road system encircling its soaring high rises.

), you might be excused for thinking you are within a life-size MC Escher illustration of an illusionary maze. French is the official language, though many street signs, especially in the old Monaco Ville quarter, are in French and Mongasque, and youngsters of all 107 nationalities that form Monaco’s population are required to observe the language at college.

Neither is Monaco part of the ECU , but due to its close ties with France it takes part in the ECU customs territory, and there are no border rituals crossing from and to France. Monaco’s manicured streets presided over by palaces and its lush fountained parks are eminently safe due to a fertile police presence backed up by plain-clothed patrollers and omnipresent CCTV cameras.

Monaco is most known for its glamorous Monte Carlo casino, Formula One vehicles roaring thru the streets during its glamorous Grand Prix, and the stimulating lives of its glamorous Royal Family, the Grimaldis.