360 photography is a great way to immerse the viewer within a scene on a desktop PC, smart phone, tablet and VR headset such as a Meta Quest 2 or Meta Quest 3. I recently visited Stockholm in Sweden and took my Insta360 OneRS 1 inch camera to capture the view from various points around the city.
360 HDR Photography Challenges
There are inherent problems with this type of imagery including hiding / editing out the monopod, ensuring recognisable faces are not included within the shot and removing the photographer from the scene (normally requires hiding behind an object!). Add to these issues the requirement for high dynamic range (HDR) mode to reduce blown out areas around the sun plus inclusion of detail within areas of shadow by allowing the camera to take a series of exposures over 2-3 seconds These exposures then need to be combined in Photoshop or Insta’s own software to a single image where ghosting (changes in the scene due to time difference between exposures) is removed. Oh, I forgot to mention, if the wind blows your monopod and camera over then theres a signficant chance your lens will be smashed or seriously scratched. So quite a few things to consider. Those things in mind, you can see the results of my efforts below:
Stockholm Sea Padel is located around 500m from City Hall in Stockholm. It is a floating padel court combined with a bisto and bar to create a great recreational facility on the harbour front.
Granitkorset is a focal point in the form of a cross located within Skogskyrkogården in the southern area of Stockholm. Skogskyrkogården was created in 1920 and became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1994.
Ulriksdal Palace is located north of Stockholm and was built by architect Hans Jacob Kristler in 1638–1645 as a country retreat.
Bryggor Norr Mälarstrand is translated as Pier (on) Norr Mälarstrand. One of a series of small piers along this central Stockholm road.
Skinnarviksberget is a popular viewpoint in central Stockholm on the island of Södermalm. It provides a clear view across central Stockholm including City Hall and Riddarholmen Church.
Uppståndelsemonumentet can be found within Skogskyrkogården close to Granitkorset and is a sculpture in front of the Chapel of the Holy Cross.
Riddarholmen Church is where many Swedish monarchs have been laid to rest and is also the home of the medieval Greyfriars Monastery in on Riddarholmen island in Stockholm.
Other 360 Photo Examples
See more information about 360 photography by Simcoemedia in blog articles from this site including Google Trusted Photographer article and 360 photography from Liverpool. Check out my complete photography collection on Google Maps including tradition and 360 degree photography. 360 photographs provide a sense of immersion by providing a 2D or even 3D (where technology allows) sense of the entire space from a single viewpoint, even on a desktop or phone, whilst allowing the viewer to select the relevant areas of interest.
