World's largest panoramic photo now much, much larger
February 22, 2013 3:06 PM Subscribe
An amazing image of London taken from the top of the BT Tower has set a new record for the world’s largest panoramic photo. The image shows a full 360 degree view of London in incredible detail.
The image was shot over 3 days with Canon 7D DSLRs from the 29th floor of the BT tower in London at the end of 2012 Games. It is 320 gigapixels (the previous record holder was 80 - previously on the blue) and is comprised of over 48,000 individual RAW files.
The lenses used were all 400mm f2.8L lenses with 2x extenders. Meaning the final focal length was 800mm. Since these are crop sensor cameras, the effective focal length is further multiplied by 1.6, meaning the effective focal length equivalent on a 35mm sensor or piece of film would be a 1280mm lens. Hence the truly amazing level of detail.
The whole thing is online and ready to explore. The company that created the photo, 360cities, has a version with a few more features (like a map and landmark tour).
Press release.
Discussion on photography forum Fred Miranda.
You can even zoom all the way into Brixton!
The image was shot over 3 days with Canon 7D DSLRs from the 29th floor of the BT tower in London at the end of 2012 Games. It is 320 gigapixels (the previous record holder was 80 - previously on the blue) and is comprised of over 48,000 individual RAW files.
The lenses used were all 400mm f2.8L lenses with 2x extenders. Meaning the final focal length was 800mm. Since these are crop sensor cameras, the effective focal length is further multiplied by 1.6, meaning the effective focal length equivalent on a 35mm sensor or piece of film would be a 1280mm lens. Hence the truly amazing level of detail.
The whole thing is online and ready to explore. The company that created the photo, 360cities, has a version with a few more features (like a map and landmark tour).
Press release.
Discussion on photography forum Fred Miranda.
You can even zoom all the way into Brixton!
There have been very few people in the parts of the photo I've explored. Empty offices, empty streets, the occasional half car. Was it a weekend?
posted by ocherdraco at 3:20 PM on February 22, 2013
posted by ocherdraco at 3:20 PM on February 22, 2013
I'm zoomed in, looking at someone's laptop, and the magazine they were reading before they left the room. Wow.
posted by bashos_frog at 3:25 PM on February 22, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by bashos_frog at 3:25 PM on February 22, 2013 [2 favorites]
Was there a small earthquake just east of St. Pancras?
posted by Capt. Renault at 3:25 PM on February 22, 2013
posted by Capt. Renault at 3:25 PM on February 22, 2013
Finally, a group of people larger than two or three: football in the park.
posted by ocherdraco at 3:26 PM on February 22, 2013
posted by ocherdraco at 3:26 PM on February 22, 2013
And rugby, with the ball in midair. (At least, I think that smudge is the ball.)
posted by ocherdraco at 3:29 PM on February 22, 2013
posted by ocherdraco at 3:29 PM on February 22, 2013
Nice to see these sandbags sitting on the lip of a four-story building. Yikes.
posted by hamandcheese at 3:32 PM on February 22, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by hamandcheese at 3:32 PM on February 22, 2013 [1 favorite]
Aw, this is so cool.
posted by Rustic Etruscan at 3:46 PM on February 22, 2013
posted by Rustic Etruscan at 3:46 PM on February 22, 2013
The coolest rooftop hangout in town.
Tea time.
Hard to miss these guys.
posted by hamandcheese at 3:49 PM on February 22, 2013
Tea time.
Hard to miss these guys.
posted by hamandcheese at 3:49 PM on February 22, 2013
And here I was thinking I was going to go outside this weekend. Bummer.
posted by dogwalker at 3:50 PM on February 22, 2013
posted by dogwalker at 3:50 PM on February 22, 2013
Through one of these windows can be seen evidence of a murder.
But which one?
posted by Rustic Etruscan at 3:52 PM on February 22, 2013 [3 favorites]
But which one?
posted by Rustic Etruscan at 3:52 PM on February 22, 2013 [3 favorites]
A table set for two, but first, turn down the radio.
posted by hamandcheese at 3:56 PM on February 22, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by hamandcheese at 3:56 PM on February 22, 2013 [1 favorite]
My first reaction was "Holy crap, none of that goddamned spot blurring of license plates and small signs like on Google Streets."
My next reaction: "Holy crap, I can read things on the boxes in a pile of trash."
posted by crapmatic at 4:04 PM on February 22, 2013 [2 favorites]
My next reaction: "Holy crap, I can read things on the boxes in a pile of trash."
posted by crapmatic at 4:04 PM on February 22, 2013 [2 favorites]
I found a man in a chicken suit that says 'buzby'!
[and way fewer street-level views than I was hoping for]
[[no word yet on waldo]]
posted by Acari at 4:09 PM on February 22, 2013
[and way fewer street-level views than I was hoping for]
[[no word yet on waldo]]
posted by Acari at 4:09 PM on February 22, 2013
It's the ultimate panopticon. By the way one of the "Buzbys" is here.
posted by elgilito at 4:11 PM on February 22, 2013
posted by elgilito at 4:11 PM on February 22, 2013
"Hey Flynn, what shall we do with the Nesbit account?"
"Eh... throw it out the window."
posted by crapmatic at 4:12 PM on February 22, 2013 [1 favorite]
"Eh... throw it out the window."
posted by crapmatic at 4:12 PM on February 22, 2013 [1 favorite]
buzby should have been way harder to find then that!
posted by couchdive at 4:15 PM on February 22, 2013
posted by couchdive at 4:15 PM on February 22, 2013
And I think I found that spanner Cortex was looking for. This is crazy resolution.
posted by crapmatic at 4:15 PM on February 22, 2013
posted by crapmatic at 4:15 PM on February 22, 2013
If you're wondering what you'd pay for the hot and spicy chicken at The Japanese Canteen, have a look.
posted by davebush at 4:17 PM on February 22, 2013
posted by davebush at 4:17 PM on February 22, 2013
And I think I found that spanner Cortex was looking for.
WHAT
I AM ASTOUNDED
posted by Rustic Etruscan at 4:18 PM on February 22, 2013
WHAT
I AM ASTOUNDED
posted by Rustic Etruscan at 4:18 PM on February 22, 2013
All I need now is a broken leg and Grace Kelly.
posted by davebush at 4:26 PM on February 22, 2013 [4 favorites]
posted by davebush at 4:26 PM on February 22, 2013 [4 favorites]
The coolest rooftop hangout in town.
My mate's roof terrace – that he shares with a young family – and where we've spent three NYEs watching fireworks.
posted by nickrussell at 4:40 PM on February 22, 2013 [1 favorite]
My mate's roof terrace – that he shares with a young family – and where we've spent three NYEs watching fireworks.
posted by nickrussell at 4:40 PM on February 22, 2013 [1 favorite]
For one of the half-cars, I can see the rest of it in full about one block away.
This is so fascinating!
posted by Acari at 4:42 PM on February 22, 2013
This is so fascinating!
posted by Acari at 4:42 PM on February 22, 2013
I found the quintessential London burglars
is this doc browns car?
posted by couchdive at 4:48 PM on February 22, 2013
is this doc browns car?
posted by couchdive at 4:48 PM on February 22, 2013
enhance... enhance... enhance.
posted by fuzzypantalones at 4:55 PM on February 22, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by fuzzypantalones at 4:55 PM on February 22, 2013 [3 favorites]
I like finding the rooftop gardens. There aren't many.
My first reaction was "Holy crap, none of that goddamned spot blurring of license plates and small signs like on Google Streets."
There's some censorship here. Sir Paul's hot tub?
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 5:18 PM on February 22, 2013
My first reaction was "Holy crap, none of that goddamned spot blurring of license plates and small signs like on Google Streets."
There's some censorship here. Sir Paul's hot tub?
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 5:18 PM on February 22, 2013
Nifty!
posted by Smedleyman at 5:30 PM on February 22, 2013
posted by Smedleyman at 5:30 PM on February 22, 2013
Holy shit.
posted by lazaruslong at 5:31 PM on February 22, 2013
posted by lazaruslong at 5:31 PM on February 22, 2013
I've always found the krpano controls confusing. Hold down the "Shift" key to zoom in. Hold down "Ctrl" to zoom out. Hope this helps.
And yes. You can see a naked woman in one of the windows. I won't tell you where.
posted by twoleftfeet at 5:43 PM on February 22, 2013
And yes. You can see a naked woman in one of the windows. I won't tell you where.
posted by twoleftfeet at 5:43 PM on February 22, 2013
You can see a naked woman in one of the windows.
Found her!
posted by yoink at 6:17 PM on February 22, 2013 [1 favorite]
Found her!
posted by yoink at 6:17 PM on February 22, 2013 [1 favorite]
Indeed.
For a bonus point, find a young gentleman clad in blue pants, with a red and white striped shirt, wearing a similar cap.
posted by twoleftfeet at 6:51 PM on February 22, 2013 [2 favorites]
For a bonus point, find a young gentleman clad in blue pants, with a red and white striped shirt, wearing a similar cap.
posted by twoleftfeet at 6:51 PM on February 22, 2013 [2 favorites]
Rooftop chickens!
Heh. I started from the chickens and pulled out a bit to look at the neighbourhood. I recognized a couple of places and realized that the chickens are a block from the London Central YHA, which is where I stayed last time I was in London. Nice.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 7:01 PM on February 22, 2013
Heh. I started from the chickens and pulled out a bit to look at the neighbourhood. I recognized a couple of places and realized that the chickens are a block from the London Central YHA, which is where I stayed last time I was in London. Nice.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 7:01 PM on February 22, 2013
... followed by the thought, "Oh, right, THAT tower."
posted by ricochet biscuit at 7:04 PM on February 22, 2013
posted by ricochet biscuit at 7:04 PM on February 22, 2013
It strikes me that there seem to be quite a lot of trees in London. The last time I was there other than as a stop between other destinations, it was before I lived in a big city myself, and I don't recall noticing lots of trees. But now I'm comparatively tree starved here in New York, and I can't help but think that there sure are a lot of them in this panorama. Does the city feel particularly leafy? Or is it just that this image lets you see them all at once?
posted by ocherdraco at 7:07 PM on February 22, 2013
posted by ocherdraco at 7:07 PM on February 22, 2013
I like that this dude managed to get his new Facebook profile photo taken by this.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 7:12 PM on February 22, 2013
posted by ricochet biscuit at 7:12 PM on February 22, 2013
I might be imagining it, but there is a guy on the cupola of Saint Paul's Cathedral (waving at something) and he's dressed in a similar way to the guy that richocet biscuit pointed out. It's very blurry so I could just be talking myself into it.
posted by smcniven at 7:36 PM on February 22, 2013
posted by smcniven at 7:36 PM on February 22, 2013
I've spent three hours looking at this, and I still can't find my wallet, which I'm sure I left somewhere out there.
posted by twoleftfeet at 10:46 PM on February 22, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by twoleftfeet at 10:46 PM on February 22, 2013 [2 favorites]
This fellow is sitting at his breakfast table reading the newspaper. We can zoom in and read it clearly over his shoulder.
Edit: if you zoom in you'll have to find the window again to the right as some spots on the map are kind of broken at max zoom
posted by darkfred at 11:06 PM on February 22, 2013 [1 favorite]
Edit: if you zoom in you'll have to find the window again to the right as some spots on the map are kind of broken at max zoom
posted by darkfred at 11:06 PM on February 22, 2013 [1 favorite]
Rooftop playground and despite the nets, they seem to have misplaced quite a few balls.
posted by Authorized User at 11:49 PM on February 22, 2013
posted by Authorized User at 11:49 PM on February 22, 2013
You can see a naked woman in one of the windows.
Or this one, descending a staircase.
posted by dhartung at 12:27 AM on February 23, 2013
Or this one, descending a staircase.
posted by dhartung at 12:27 AM on February 23, 2013
These houses try very hard to fit in.
posted by Free word order! at 3:42 AM on February 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Free word order! at 3:42 AM on February 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
Or this one, descending a staircase.
I as so excited for that to be from the actual photo.
posted by 3FLryan at 6:03 AM on February 23, 2013
I as so excited for that to be from the actual photo.
posted by 3FLryan at 6:03 AM on February 23, 2013
When I was a very tiny pre-mefite, sometimes my grandmother would take me with her to work, at a stockbroker's office in downtown Tampa. It wasn't big then (...or now, really) but I loved gluing myself to the windows like one of those stuffed animals with suction-cup elbows. If I was especially good she'd let me into her boss' office, and I could use the little telescope there.
This is better. There's a TARDIS somewhere in here, right? Right?
This could be a Mefite hideout. And another.
Before your city is photographed, be sure to clean your toilet. And then maybe buy some curtains.
And a bonus, some interesting art.
I expect someone at some point will make a map of places from Dr. Who, Sherlock, and other pop-culture things that Americans will recognize.
posted by cmyk at 8:06 AM on February 23, 2013
This is better. There's a TARDIS somewhere in here, right? Right?
This could be a Mefite hideout. And another.
Before your city is photographed, be sure to clean your toilet. And then maybe buy some curtains.
And a bonus, some interesting art.
I expect someone at some point will make a map of places from Dr. Who, Sherlock, and other pop-culture things that Americans will recognize.
posted by cmyk at 8:06 AM on February 23, 2013
Awkward navigation system--pointing the way you want to look. It is so much easier and more intuitive to click and drag something in the picture to the center of the screen.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 12:24 PM on February 23, 2013 [4 favorites]
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 12:24 PM on February 23, 2013 [4 favorites]
There's some censorship here. Sir Paul's hot tub?
From the FAQ:
I can read license plates and see faces! Isn’t that illegal?
The last time we checked, it is perfectly legal to practice the art of photography in most places on planet Earth. We have blurred out the faces of identifiable children, because as we understand it, it is a tremendous crime in the UK to photograph and publish images of children without the consent of their parents (unless you are a CCTV operator, then it’s perfectly alright ;-) . We also blurred out one “naughty bit”.
posted by paleyellowwithorange at 3:50 AM on February 24, 2013
From the FAQ:
I can read license plates and see faces! Isn’t that illegal?
The last time we checked, it is perfectly legal to practice the art of photography in most places on planet Earth. We have blurred out the faces of identifiable children, because as we understand it, it is a tremendous crime in the UK to photograph and publish images of children without the consent of their parents (unless you are a CCTV operator, then it’s perfectly alright ;-) . We also blurred out one “naughty bit”.
posted by paleyellowwithorange at 3:50 AM on February 24, 2013
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