PhotoWebLab Blog

Laguna Beach to Las Vegas via Death Valley National Park

2012-01-15T20:05:00.059-05:00

Part 1 - Into the Purple Valley – you can check out any time you like... ( Purple links lead to full screen views, mostly 360 spherical panoramas, clicking on the word GigaPan in the images below leads to full screen views )

On Christmas day 2011 we flew into John Wayne Airport, Orange County, California, collected a rental car, and drove to visit family in Laguna Beach. Three days later we set off on our desert road trip in our maroon Accent, the color was at least a similar hue to that of the ‘Great Red Shark’ in which Hunter S. Thompson (aka Raoul Duke) and his' Samoan' attorney drove on their infamous journey to Las Vegas. We were heading for the same destination but taking a couple of days detour to visit Death Valley National Park. We drove north skirting LA and turning northwest ‘somewhere around Bartow’, where Raoul Duke had first noticed ‘the drugs taking hold’. For us it may have been the vitamins, but the exhilaration of driving through this haunting desert scenery was to be enough. We turned onto 395 and then drove 150 miles, through the Mojave Desert (Captain Beefheart's later day home) and on to Lone Pine, where we spent a night at a Comfort Inn. The next morning we rose to see the sunrise from our balcony, bathing Mount Whitney in glorious amber light. Mount Whitney is the highest point in the USA at 14,494 ft. and we were heading for the lowest point called Badwater Basin at 282 ft. below sea level.

We set off early passing Owen’s Lake, a huge dried up Salt Lake on the other side of which is a plant where Crystal Geyser water is extracted and bottled. As we would realize later water is the hidden actor in the desert. Here it left the salt flats as a result of ages of rain leaching minerals from the surrounding mountains. Yet still it was being pumped from deep within the ground and trucked hundreds or even thousands of miles for sale!

We drove over the mountains entering Death Valley National Park to reach Father Crowley Vista, where we walked down a dirt track to discover the spectacular Panamint Valley and Range, spread out before us. 'Into the Purple Valley' (as Ry Cooder titled his seminal album) I thought, as we descended into the Panamint Valley by way of a long winding road that passed through what seemed like an encampment out of 'Mad Max' called Panamint Springs.

We crossed the valley floor and then climbed the Panamint Range to reach the Towne Pass at around 4956 ft. and then began the long straight decent into Death Valley dropping to 4000 then 3000, 2000, 1000 feet without turning until we reached Stove Pipe Wells a few hundred feet above sea level. Stopping briefly to ask about the opening time for lunch at the local watering hole, we drove a couple of miles further to the Mesquite Sand Dunes and clambered about on the dunes that almost felt like being in the Sahara.

We then backtracked to the Stovepipe Wells Saloon for lunch and then drove on as the road descended to ‘Sea Level’ until we pulled off on a dirt track for a mile so to find Salt Creek, to see if we could get a sighting of the rare pupfish. Salt Creek as the name suggests is salty stream that bubbles along the desert floor, winding past gullied rock formations and outcrops. Standing looking into the water we suddenly notice the quiet of the desert, not a sound could be heard, no distant rumble of traffic, no wildlife, no one else, not a sound – a strange feeling in a world where true silence is a rarity, like water in the desert. Still, there were no pupfish to be seen, and then a crop of fellow travelers appeared further down the creek and the sound of feet on the boardwalk returned.

Further down the road we stopped at Harmony Borax Works, site of a short lived mining operation from 1883 from where teams of twenty mules had hauled Borax 165 miles through the desert to some distant railhead. A couple of miles down the road we reached the oasis called Furnace Creek and checked into the Furnace Creek Ranch, a 220 room resort/motel where we were to spend the night. Dropping off our bags we got back into the car and sped five miles up the road to reach Zabriskie Point just as the sun was beginning to set. Unfortunately there was a lot of cloud which dulled the effect at first but the sun broke through at times illuminating the peaks, as we took many photos and a panorama or two.

Getting back in the car we drove back towards the ranch, only to find that within minutes perhaps the most spectacular sunset I had seen in many if any a year began to unfold. We leap out of the car close the Furnace Creek Inn, an up market resort hotel that could be the one immortalized on the Eagle’s Hotel California album cover, taking one last panorama of the Sunset over the Panamint Mountains.

Part 2 - Water in Las Vegas – and not a drop to drink…

In the desert water is like gold dust, rare and bound up with minerals. In Las Vegas water is a sign of opulence, and the largest, most extravagant and expensive Hotel/Casinos have it in spades. We had arrived in 'Vegas' the night before New Year’s Eve, following our second day in Death Valley National Park. Earlier, that morning we rose at sunrise, to be sure to have enough time to cover as much of the park as we could that day. We asked a ranger in the visitor’s center about driving times for our route and the set off for Dante’s View, a 26 miles accent from the Ranch, from 178 ft. below sea level to 5475 ft. above. Speeding past Zabriskie Point and Twenty Mule Team Canyon which we had decided we did not have time to visit, we found the turning to Dante’s View and the last 13 mile ascent that ended with a very steep winding climb to the viewing point. The vitamins (D, B2 and B12) were kicking in as we walked down to the tip of the Dante’s View to see Death Valley spread out far below, with the salt flat at Badwater Basin looking like a giant skating rink white and glistening in the sun, and a few miles across the valley the giant Telescope Peak at 11,049 ft. amid the Panamint Range.

Back in the car we set off back down the winding road, heading for the valley floor and our next stop at Golden Canyon, sculpted by eons of flash floods racing down the canyon, revealing geological history and fascinating combinations of rocks and colors including the red cathedral cliffs and a path though the badlands to Zabriskie Point.

Artist’s Drive is a nine mile loop via the Artists Pallete, a crazy roller coaster ride through volcanic scenery displaying the colors of the rainbow.

Almost as soon as we left that behind, there was a turning down another dusty track out towards the Devil’s Golf Course on the edge of the great salt flats, this strange terrain made up of countless salt spires is what remains of a lake that evaporated 2000 years ago.

And then finally we reached Badwater Basin where we were able to walk out hundreds of yards on to the salt flats we had peered down on from a mile above on Dante’s View just a few hours earlier. Here we had reached the lowest point in the USA, at 282 feet below sea level.

It was time to hit the road as we wanted to arrive in Vegas before sunset. We drove along the remaining 25 or so miles of the valley floor gradually climbing to sea level and then the road veered left and began to climb more noticeably. First though the Black Mountains to the Jubilee Pass at 1290 ft. The scenery was again spectacular with every mile and every turn revealing strangely formed and colored geology. We stopped briefly to take some pictures them sped on passing two Coyotes just hanging out by the side of the road, probably awaiting some unsuspecting traveler to stop! Then up again to Salsberry Pass at 3315 ft. and the across the Greenwater Range we finally reached the park exit sign although we drove many more miles without any noticeable signs of life until finally arrived in the small settlement of Shoshone, the first signs of civilization, other than the occasional car on the road, since we left Furnace Creek at around 8am that morning, it was now approaching 4pm. After a brief rest stop we continued on crossing into Nevada and reaching the sprawling desert town of Pahrump were we stopped for gas, and then turned onto the road for Las Vegas. Huge road side signs and billboards confronted us with local exhortations to buy everything from Ice Cream, Psychics and Casinos to Jesus. Obviously billboard space is cheap in the Nevada or at least until the Pahrump city line where thankfully they ceased.

One last long climb to the pass at Mountain Springs and then we began the long straight decent toward Las Vegas, similar to the descent into Stovepipe wells a day earlier except this time the sun had just set and we could see the city lights in the distance ahead. We navigated the sharp right turn on to I-15 with some uncertainty as to whether the GPS was correct but thankfully arrived, without too much difficulty, at our destination The Gold Coast Casino/Hotel.

If you’ve only seen Vegas in the movies, the first time you see it for real is eye opener. After walking through acres of slot machines to find the elevator to our room, we decided to take things one step at a time and grab some food in the hotel rather than start walking around town in search of a restaurant. The Ping Pang Pong served authentic Chinese food which was attested to by the mostly Asian clientele. After dinner we boarded the free shuttle bus service for the 1.5 mile ride to ‘The Strip’ in the main downtown area also known as ‘Paradise’, where the biggest, brashest and most famous Casino/Hotels have created a kind of Adult ‘Disneyland’. The bus dropped us outside of Bill's Gamblin' Hall and Saloon at the junction of Flamingo Road and Las Vegas Boulevard. We then walked north on the Boulevard passing the Flamingo, Imperial Palace, Harrahs and Casino Royal to get to the Venetian.

This side of the street was very crowded and every few yards someone would try to thrust a card into your hand which contained photos and phone numbers of Girls, Girls, Girls. There was even a vehicle sporting a mobile billboard offering more of the same just in case you refused to read the cards on offer. This side of the street was more like Time Square where the buildings are close to the pavement with the sights and sounds of this ‘three ringed circus’, speakers blasting and people spilling in and out of the casinos like they were fast food outlets.

Our goal was to get to the Venetian as we had been told that it was a sight to see. We eventually managed to navigate all the afore mentioned obstacles to be confronted with a condensed view of Venice with the Rialto Bridge, and elements of the Piazza San Marco like the Campanile and the Piazzetta façade all squashed together with the Grand Canal sweeping between them and in under the facade with gondolas passing through.

As it was between Christmas and New Year, there were green laser illuminated seasonal motifs displayed on the Campanile and music blasting at fantastic volume from speakers on the Rialto Bridge. Then a strange white bird like figure high on the bridge began singing or was it rapping to the pumping beats. We decided to take a closer look and boarded the escalator that took us in to the bridge and as we passed over the middle the performance hit full gear with more white/crystal dancers gyrating on the parapets of the Rialto Bridge for the audience in the street below.

Beyond the Venetian is the Palazzo the tallest building in town, but we decided to cross the boulevard on an elevated walk way to the other side with Treasure Island to our right the Mirage on the left.

We walked along the frontage of the Mirage which is separated from the public street by a long ornamental lake. A crowd was gathering in front of the railings along the lake and when asked what was happening we were told that on the hour there was a display with fire and lights, a sort of Las Vegas Son et Lumiere. As it was close to 10pm we waited for the show, which began with the amplified sound of crickets and the jungle and moody lighting and then exploded into sound and fire emitting first from a rock like island structure, a kind of miniature volcano and then all across the lake fire burst out of jets in the lake itself and the island erupted into fire and multicolored lights. This re-creation of some volcanic fantasy continued for about five minutes and then subsided and the crowd dissolved.

Next is Ceasar’s Palace which is a huge complex of buildings recreating scenes from Rome, including the Colosseum, a 4296 seat auditorium, the Forum shopping complex and 3,960 hotel rooms and a convention facility of over 300,000 sq. ft. There are also several pools and fountains including a re-creation of the Trevi Fountain.

It’s hard to believe Las Vegas is in the middle of the desert with so much water around. The height of this aquatic ostentation must be the Bellagio, another giant Casino/Hotel with a huge lake in front from which giant fountains gush on the hour. After two hours of shelping around the Strip we felt the need for refreshment only to find that a bottle of water cost the earth! And like water in the desert, the next morning we were gone, turning in the maroon Accent and flying back home.

Nike Site NY-56, Sandy Hook, New Jersey

2011-10-30T18:19:00.004-04:00

In 1954 Sandy Hook became home to Nike Site NY-56, one of a series of Nike missile sites that formed a circle around New York City. From 1954 until 1974, Nike Site NY-56 operated secretly as a last line of defense against a nuclear attack by Soviet Union bombers. Local residents were often aware that there were missiles behind the fences but very few knew that they were armed with nuclear warheads. Even today some residents find it "chilling" to learn that they lived so close. Here is a link to a multimedia virtual tour of the site. And for further information see the Fort Hancock Nike Association.

Tours de France

2011-09-26T21:21:00.004-04:00

From the Musée Carnavalet - Histoire de Paris - one of a series of 360VR tours from Paris and the Chateaux of Loire Valley that make up the Tours de France series from our recent trip to France.

Celebrating Mother's 100th Birthday, London

2011-08-23T21:58:00.006-04:00

Mum's 100th Birthday Celebration with Family and Friends

and a birthday card from the Queen on the center of the mantlepiece

(click above for a full 360 degree view)

Jackson Pollock-Lee Krasner House, Long Island

2011-07-03T15:22:00.006-04:00

The Barn Studio where Jackson Pollock created his most famous Abstract Expressionist paintings. The floor still shows evidence of the liquid paint he used as he moved around his paintings, applying the paint from above to the canvas on the floor.

Below is the Sitting room in the Pollack-Krasner house, details include their book collection and Jackson Pollack's hi-fi valve amplifier, record deck and jazz records.

Mountain Laurel, Hartshorne Woods, New Jersey

2011-06-05T20:37:00.005-04:00

The Mountain Laurel produces delicate lace like flowers for two or three weeks around in late May to early June each year. This year has seen an explosion of flowers filling some areas of Hartshorne Woods with a profusion that is a wonder to behold. One of the benefits of the many days of rain this Spring. See here for a 360 view.

Nationality Rooms,Cathedral of Learning,Pittsburgh

2011-05-08T14:58:00.007-04:00

The English Classroom

The Welsh Classroom

The African Heritage Classroom

The Nationality Rooms are a collection of 27 classrooms in the University of Pittsburgh's Cathedral of Learning, depicting and donated by the ethnic groups that helped build the city of Pittsburgh - click on the links above to see 360 VR views and here for more details of the Nationality Rooms.

Cathedral of Learning, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

2011-04-17T14:24:00.013-04:00

The Cathedral of Learning is in the Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania and is the tallest educational building in the Western hemisphere and the second tallest university building in the world. For a full view of this panorama, see http://www.3dpan.org/75228 and pan upwards to look up to the top of this amazing 535 feet high building.

Hazardous Conditions OR Limits To Growth!

2011-04-01T20:43:00.008-04:00

One of a sequence of photographs taken during a pleasant afternoon stroll along the bay shore of Sandy Hook. Later as I was processing this panorama I decided this image would be a good candidate for the World Wide Panorama Project on "Limits", (follow this link for a 360 degree VR view).

The sign posted on this decaying military building has its own message about Limits!
Ultimately the limits shown here are of the durability of human efforts to build close to the water, not to mention the effects rising sea levels could have, eroding Sandy Hook, the eastern seaboard of the United States and coastal areas around the world! It's time to re-read Limits To Growth: The 30 Year Update by Meadows, Randers and Meadows.

The Boating Lake, Central Park, New York City

2011-02-27T10:17:00.001-05:00

A 360VR Fall view over the Boating Lake in Central Park

Bow Bridge from a 360VR within the Gazebo on the Boating Lake

More Snow, Hartshorne Woods, Monmouth County

2011-01-27T18:10:00.004-05:00

Looks like we are heading for the snowiest month on record here in the North East of America. Climate Change is kicking in but I wonder how much longer my back can survive the digging out with out a snow blower! This was the sixth snow storm in a month and there's more on the way! And here's the link to a 360 panoramic view.

Frozen, Sandy Hook Bay, New Jersey

2011-01-18T08:14:00.003-05:00

Ice on the beach at the entrance to Spermaceti Cove, Sandy Hook Bay

Frozen Salt Marshes in Spermaceti Cove, Sandy Hook Bay

Follow this link to the Spherical Panoramic views

Goodland Harbor and Goodland Bay, Florida

2011-01-03T19:19:00.001-05:00

Goodland Harbor

Goodland is a small fishing community, near Marco Island in the south west of Florida,
situated at the northern end of the 10,000 Islands National Wildlife Refuge.

Follow the title link beneath each panorama to explore each 360 VR view.

Fishing Dock, Goodland Harbor

Goodland Bay

Inside the Square Mile, City of London

2010-12-12T17:41:00.001-05:00

Guildhall and inside, the Great Hall, City of London

Ledenhall Market, and the Lloyds Building and the Gherkin

Pelham Bay Park, Bronx, New York

2010-11-26T09:51:00.001-05:00

Hunter Island, Pelham Bay Park, a real gem in the Bronx, New York. And here is a link to another view and below is a view between Twin Island and Hunter Island.

Stereographic Projections

2010-11-23T21:44:00.003-05:00

Above is a Stereographic projection of the Plaza de Espana in Sevilla and below is a projection of the Bullring in Ronda. For more see the Gallery and a Slideshow of 75 Stereographic Projections from around the World!

Granville Island, Vancouver, Canada

2010-11-16T22:28:00.015-05:00

A series of 360 Panoramas and gallery of projections from Granville Island, Vancouver, taken while attending the International Digital Media & Arts Association Conference "The Digital Narrative" at
the Emily Carr University of Art & Design.

Press the Play button on the projection above to hear and see music composed by Synthia, is an instrument that composes infinite musical canons by using software to translate pictures into a score, which is played back in real time with the mixing of pre-rendered audio files.

I Drink The Air Before Me, Barbican, London

2010-10-23T19:49:00.004-04:00

The Stephen Petronio Company, Nico Muhly and ensemble with the New London Children's Choir, on stage at the Barbican Theatre during rehearsals for UK premiere of "I Drink the Air Before Me" (click here for the gallery and slideshow).

34th Street and 8th Avenue, New York City

2010-10-02T18:44:00.001-04:00

This spherical panorama was taken as a part of the World Wide Panorama fall 2010 event on the theme of 'Crossroads'. From this busy crossroads in New York City, shown here just before sunset and during the evening rush hour, you see the myraid signs and buildings, the vehicles and people all in motion. From here you can also see several New York landmarks. Directly opposite is Madison Square Garden and Penn Station, looking east down 34th street you can see the Empire State Building, behind is the New Yorker Hotel and west down 34th Street, but out of view, is B & H Photo!

"My Time", Sandy Hook Bay, Atlantic Highlands

2010-09-06T16:54:00.004-04:00

The crew aboard the yatch "My Time" returning home after a day's sailing to and from Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, and arriving home in Atlantic Highlands Harbor.

Summer in Ocean Grove, New Jersey, USA

2010-08-16T19:27:00.001-04:00

Summer in Ocean Grove, the Tent Colony and Beersheba Well and here's the link to the 360 VR's along with the Great Auditorium, the Pilgrim Pathway and the Pier.

Greenwich Peninsula, Prince Edward Island

2010-08-07T11:48:00.001-04:00

This 360VR view was taken on the western tip of the Greenwich Peninsula, part of Prince Edward Island National Park in Canada. Among the most spectacular natural characteristics are the unusually large and mobile parabolic dunes with their associated counter ridges or Gegenwälle. The landscape varies from secluded wooded areas to open abandoned agricultural fields to spectacular vistas over Bowley Pond.

Asby Bay and Dingwall Harbour, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia

2010-07-30T16:21:00.002-04:00

This 360 view of Asby Bay and Dingwall Harbour was taken around sunset in late July near the northern tip of Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, not far from Cabot Landing where John Cabot reputedly first set foot on the North American Continent in 1497. Follow the links for more views of North Harbour and Asby Bay and North Harbour & Dingwall Harbour.

The Japanese Garden, S. Mary Grace Burns Arboretum, Lakewood, NJ

2010-07-17T12:20:00.003-04:00

Here is a link to the 360 VR view of the Japanese Garden at the S. Mary Grace Burns Arboretum in Georgian Court Univeristy, Lakewood, New Jersey. It's a hot summer's day and no water in the garden. This year looks like breaking the records for heat waves here in the North East USA, we've have had 15 days over 90 degrees so far and it's only mid July.

Three Maidens Fountain, Central Park, NYC

2010-07-10T16:54:00.001-04:00

The Three Dancing Maidens Fountain and the Northern Garden in the Conservatory Garden, Central Park, New York, near 105st and 5th Avenue - Spring 2010. Officially known as the Untermyer Water Fountain, this features the bronze sculpture by Walter Schott.

The Officer's Office - History House

2010-07-02T09:03:00.025-04:00

Here is a 360 view of a typical office in an Officer's House on Officers Row in Fort Hancock. The door from the dining room was the dividing line between home and the office. The door at the back led to the parade ground. These Officers' Houses were unusual in that the front of each house faced the water rather than the parade ground which was the usual configuration. The house is currently furnished in a typical 1950s fashion. The Fort was decommissioned in 1974 and is now part of the Gateway National Recreation Area and the New York Harbor National Park. Here are some Gigapan views of Officers Row and Fort Hancock and a full 360VR of the Officer's Row at sunset.

Totteridge Village Pond and Orange Tree Inn

2010-06-20T16:37:00.007-04:00

Totteridge Village Pond and the Orange Tree Inn makes a great starting point for a fantastic walk through lanes, fields and village scenes only nine miles from the center of London. This view was taken in early June this year while I was visiting familiy and friends in and around London.

Friends Reunion, England, Spring 2010

2010-06-16T21:29:00.004-04:00

A 360 degree VR view of the reunion of old friends on a recent trip to England. Dave and Carly put up a fine spread, and here we all are devouring the dessert of Chocolate Pudding and Strawberry Pavlova.

Student Exhibition, Studio Theater Gallery, Middlesex County College

2010-05-16T16:31:00.006-04:00

Photography students with their Professor, Alane Poirier, at the opening of the Student Exhibition May 6, 2010 in the Studio Theater Gallery at Middlesex County College, Edison, New Jersey. The following links lead to full spherical panoramic views of the Gallery lower floor and upper floor.

Waterfall, Sabino Canyon, Tucson

2010-04-22T22:16:00.014-04:00

Here is a 360VR view of a Waterfall in Sabino Creek that was taken while on a field trip during the International Panoramic Photography Conference in Tucson. The Sabino Creek fills with water for only part of the year and although the daytime temperature is in the 80s the water temperature is around 38 F degrees. The Sabino Canyon is covered with Saguaro Cactus and this spring there are also many flowers and plants brought on by the rains earlier in the season.

The OUTSIDE IN Gallery, Piermont, NY

2010-04-03T12:08:00.008-04:00

We visited the OUTSIDE IN Gallery in Piermont on a sunny weekend in March to see the exhibition of paintings by Eleanor Grace Miller who can be seen in this picture talking with our friends. After posting this panorama on the Gigapan site the Gallery also posted it on their website where you can see more details about this exhibition. And here are more Gigapans of Piermont.

Ocean Pathway (360) Ocean Grove

2010-03-14T20:10:00.005-04:00

This is a view of the Ocean Pathway in Ocean Grove taken in late February following the third snow storm in as many weeks. Two weeks later torrential rain and gales on March 13th were accompanied by a disastrous fire centered on the Manchester Inn on Ocean Pathway destroying six buildings. Another panorama taken in late February shows the Ocean Pathway and the Manchester Inn prior to the catastrophe, and here are further Gigapans of Ocean Grove taken at that time.

Hartshorne Woods (360) In the Snow

2010-02-28T12:36:00.004-05:00

Successive snow storms over the last two weeks of February have meant a lot of digging out, but also given some good opportunities for panoramic photography. Here is a collection of Snow Panoramas including this view deep in the Hartshorne Woods (360x180).

Fort Hancock, Beach (360) Sunset

2010-02-21T21:29:00.005-05:00

Fort Hancock beach at sunset with the Officer's Row of residences in the background. The new building to the left is the back of the restored for chapel. Here are further views of Fort Hancock.

Sandy Hook Visitors Center in the Snow

2010-02-16T21:56:00.013-05:00

The Sandy Hook Visitors Center is open all the year round. Here are some full 360 degree panoramas taken in winter and summer. This fascinating building is also a former US Life Saving Station with displays about it's former use, exhibits about the natural history and Park Rangers who offer guided activities within this Gateway National Park.

Mohonk Preserve, NY - Color / B&W Infra Red

2010-02-04T21:55:00.034-05:00

Here is a color and a black & white infra red version of the same 360 degree view taken within the Mohonk Preseve in upstate New York, during peak autumn foliage season. Click on each to see the full size 360 view then click, hold and move mouse to move around. The black & white infra red version was created using DxO Film Pack.

Marshall Point Lighthouse in Maine

2010-01-31T17:14:00.005-05:00

This picture is part of a panorama that was taken on a foggy day last summer at the Marshall Point Lighthouse near Port Clyde in Maine. And here are 10 more GigaPans from foggy and sunny Maine in the summer of 2009.

Mudejar Courtyard, Parador de Carmona

2010-01-24T21:57:00.011-05:00

The Mudejar court yard of the Parador de Carmona, near Sevilla in southern Spain. Built in the ruins of the for Citadel of Carmona which dates back to Morrish times and was even at strong hold in the times of Julius Caeser. See here for a 360 degree VR view.

Plaza de Toros de Ronda

2010-01-19T17:19:00.008-05:00

A view from the bleachers of the Plaza de Toros de Ronda. Now mostly a museum of bullfighting, although still used once a year. Ronda and the Bullring were frequented by Ernest Hemingway and Orson Welles, and fictionalized in 'For Whom the Bell Tools'. Welles's ashes are buried in Ronda and there is a street named, Pasco de Orson Welles. See here for Panoramas of the Bullring and Ronda.

Alhambra, Nasdir Palace and Alcazaba

2010-01-16T10:15:00.007-05:00

The Alhambra, Nasdir Palace and the Alcazaba citadel as seen from the Albayzin district of Granada, with the snow covered Sierra Nevada mountains in the background. Follow the link on this photograph to explore an exapnded GigaPan panoramic view of the scene, where you can zoom in on fine details. And here are more GigaPans of the Alhambra, the Generalife gardens and other locations in Andalucia, Spain

Ronda and the Gorge, Spain

2010-01-13T20:45:00.008-05:00

This panorama was taken at dusk from the balcony on the Parador, showing the gorge that divides the old and the new town of Ronda in Spain. Click on the image to explore the full image on the Gigapan site and take the following link to see a collection of GigaPanoramas from Andalucia, Spain .

Sandy Hook Bay - A Panoramic Virtual Tour

2009-07-21T22:08:00.019-04:00

A Panoramic Virtual Tour of Sandy Hook Bay and the quieter bay shore of Sandy Hook. Here are salt marshes, sand bars and islands, often deserted, while thousands of people flock to the Sandy Hook's Atlantic Ocean beaches. Follow the link and navigate the tour, clicking on the beacons and markers or using the menu bar in the lower right corner of each view, to any of the 35 linked panoramas, including 11 high resolution 360 degree views, photographed between Winter 2003 and Summer 2009.

Sandy Hook from the Twin Lights Lighthouse

2009-05-29T18:25:00.019-04:00

This panorama of Sandy Hook was taken from within one of the towers of the Twin Lights lighthouse overlooking Highlands in New Jersey. Click 3D Photosynth for a multi-faceted view and close-ups showing the construction of the new bridge on Route 36, as of May 23, 2009.

A Virtual Tour of the Old Mill

2009-05-21T21:44:00.010-04:00

Click on this image of the Old Mill to enter the Virtual Tour. Explore six of the rooms inside and the Dam and River at the rear. Once the initial room has loaded use the navigation buttons at the bottom of the room to explore, move the mouse over doors and windows and when you find a labelled portal ,click to move to that space.

Welcome

2009-04-21T20:22:00.014-04:00

This Blog is about experimenting with various ways of presenting, viewing and interacting with photographic images, as well as a companion to all the galleries at PhotoWebLab on Zenfolio.

Explore the featured galleries on the right of the screen where you will find full screen images and slideshows. The links that follow lead to a sample of immersive and/or interactive experiences:

Gigapans - Hi-Res interactive panoramas + Google Earth

Photosynths - 3D reconstructions from multiple images