Panoramic Photography is a unique form of photography providing that added dimension to a particular scene, allowing the viewer to see more of the scene that the photographer experienced. Being able to develop these panoramic images is an art that not everyone aspires to, as well as requiring additional skills and specialized equipment. Capturing the image is only half the work, it is the special software that is required and many hours of computer work that finally produces the panoramic image which we all see.
Having the ability to then take this “flat” panoramic image and extend it into a fully “immersive experience” is the obvious next step. Creating a “scene” which users are able to see in a 360° x 360° allowing for full movement around in all directions is what is called an “immersive” image. These require a fair amount of skill and plenty of practice in order to get something that meshes together perfectly.
Through training and many hours on the computer, I have mastered the technique to bring to Estate Agents, Hotels Groups and Lodges the ability to show their offerings in a more visually pleasing manner, called a “Virtual Tour”. These Virtual Tours provide for a high impact, interactive imagery which provide for dynamic content on a website. This allows any real estate company or travel destination (such as a hotel, game lodge or family resort) to have a detailed 24hr showcase, allowing people to get a full interactive experience via the web.
SIMPLE IMMERSIVE (360°) IMAGES
Virtual tours can be inter-linked whereby the viewer can move from one scene to the next within the images without having to close one to open the next one. Or simply have a single image tour image showing mutually exclusive scene’s which are not inter-linked (see below):
NORTH ISLAND LODGE….
NORTH ISLAND MAIN AREA ….
VIRTUAL TOURS
Resorts, Lodges or B&B’s can have a detailed tour which links rooms, to outside entertainment areas, dining areas allowing people to move around the premises basically gaining a full idea what the establishment offers. So Virtual Tours can have any number of immersive images inter-linking.
Below is a basic interactive series of 360° images that I created down on Umhlanga Beach in Durban, South Africa – this demonstrates the basic virtual tour concept that is possible to be created for any destination (see below):
SYLVAN GROVE GUESTHOUSE VIRTUAL TOUR
A Virtual Tour was done for Sylvan Grove Guesthouse which allows the viewer to freely move between selected rooms, swimming pool area and dining areas.
VIRTUAL TOUR CREATION & OPTIONS
Once a 360° or virtual tour has been ordered, a time will be discussed to shoot the scene’s required. Depending on the number of scene’s required, will determine the time period allocated to complete the shoot. The images will then be processed back in the digital lab and the immersive images created. The virtual tour images will then be supplied to the client in html format for simple integration into the clients website. Alternatively, I provide web development services and can create a website to host the virtual tours for you if you feel your present website needs upgrading to accommodate the new virtual tours.
The tours are provided in a custom format, upon request, to fit into any window size on your web page. There is “fullscreen” functionality built into the flash player which then allows viewers to increase the immersive images to the full size of the viewers screen. Viewers are also able to zoom in and out, auto-rotate or simply drag the image around themselves to get the full feel of the scene they are looking at.
VIRTUAL TOUR COSTS & OPTIONS
For full costings of 360° or Virtual Tour creation, please contact me directly. I will then send you all the costs to create your personalized Virtual Tour or Immersive Imagery.