Escape Key Graphics Now Offers Panoramic Photography Services
By John Potter
I now offer Panoramic Photography Services, and I’ll give you some reasons
why you should consider using panoramic photography and why I’m your
best choice for your panoramic photography needs.
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| Cylindrical Panorama: How it works |
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| Cylindrical Panorama: Example |
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Full 360 panorama: How it works |
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| Full 360 panorama: Example |
If you haven’t heard of panoramic photography you may have heard it
called immersive photography or VR photography. The easiest explanation is
probably to just have a look at some samples and play with them.
By
holding down your left mouse button on the image and dragging you can control
your own view.
Have
a look at some examples here, or play with the small ones on the right
labeled “Example”.
Sometimes panoramic photos are combined using “hotspots” (see
Devil’s Den) to form what some people refer to as a Virtual Tour.
“Panoramic
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The advantages of panoramic photography are immense. All websites need more
multimedia content these days to stay competitive and interesting to an increasingly
jaded public. Panoramic photography is a multimedia asset that allows users
to choose their own pace of viewing, and concentrate on what interests them
individually (unlike video) . If your business has a venue for the public to
visit this gives you an opportunity to preview it to the masses in its best
possible light. It also makes your business more tangible. It has some of the
same effect as having met in person and creates a more comfortable feeling
for the customer. For real estate, boats, RVs etc. it both enthuses and educates
you potential client. Questions about how large the refrigerator is, for instance,
drop dramatically freeing you to concentrate on more of the unique selling
features of your product. For events it allows people to feel as if they are
there and motivates them to come to the next one.
Panoramic Photography isn’t just photography….Granted, if the
photos aren’t done well the end result isn’t going to be good,
but the work has only started when the photographs are taken. Putting them
together and making them work on a website still has to be taken care of and
there are many options of how to do this, just like there are many options
for taking the photographs.
Some panoramic photos are cylindrical only. You can look around yourself in a
circle, but not up or down. These are easier and cheaper for the photographer,
but the result is less spectacular for the end user. Then there are full panoramic
photos where you can look up or down and in any direction. I only offer these
full 360 degree experiences and feel that anything less just isn’t enough.
The software used to create the panoramas is of no concern to anyone purchasing
panoramic photography for their site, but how it is integrated into their website
is. Options include using many plug-ins like Quicktime or Flash. Some Java
methods are also available. I personally prefer Flash. It is now included with
most browsers, so the vast majority of people shouldn’t have to download
anything and it tends not to be as buggy as Java. It is also easier to secure.
After all, after investing in panoramic photography you probably want to make
sure no one else takes it for free.
That having been said you may also want a Quicktime mov version of your photographs
for uploading to an MLS, or some other format for some other specific need.
I can usually meet these needs without any problem.
Other features we can offer are:
- Auto Rotation: The photo begins panning on
its own when the page loads - Hot Spots: Links panoramic photos into a virtual
tour - Lens Flare: Simulates lights in a realistic fashion
- Full Screen Viewing
- Flat images of panoramas for printing etc.
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| Flat images of panorama: CLICK HERE for full size |
Panoramic photography is neither cheap nor easy to create. The hardware and
software are pricey and experience is hard earned. I have personally shot over
one hundred published panoramic photos and kept up with the latest in software
innovations. I’ve invested in some of the best equipment and software
available based upon that experience and I’m ready to put it to use for
you.
