Creating “Look arounds” in Sao Miguel Island, Azores
Last year I discovered the beauty of Pico Island in Panoramio and I spent my holidays there. This year I decided to go for another island of the Azores, São Miguel, and again I was very impressed by a unique landscape. Pico was a rocky island dominated by the shape of the big volcano, but São Miguel is a Hawaiian style green island full of volcanic cones and lakes.
São Miguel island was a perfect place to experiment with the new “Look around” feature. I took many overlapped photos in the most interesting landmarks in order to get “look around” links. It worked pretty well and only 10 days after the upload, the photos have been reviewed and got the “Look around” link. Sometimes my photos have joined an existing “Look around” group of photos, but other times they have created a new “look around”. The results were very cool, so I decided to share them and my conclusions:
- Vista do Rei: the most famous sightseeing place of São Miguel
- Lagoa Verde and Lagoa Azul: if you move to the right you can even see where I parked my car
- Mosteiros cliffs: Nice sight, but I didn’t get all photos connected in a perfect 360º panorama
- Lagoa Verde from a small beach: it worked perfectly here, you can see both sides of the lake
- Lagoa do Fogo: beautiful lake, but my photos of the sides didn’t get connected
- Termal beach in Ferraria: pretty small, I got it unintentionally
I thought that two overlapping photos for each shot were enough (on the right and left sides) to get the photo inside the “look around”, but actually the algorithm seems to work better with more than 2 overlapping photos, 3 or 4 is Ok. Anyway, the more photos you take, the higher probability of getting the magic link.
After playing a lot with this feature I have to say that I love it. The “look around” gives you the freedom to choose your own perspective and a magic feeling. I feel like I can turn my head in the direction I want and explore the place personally.
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Eduardo,
I think “Look Around” is the coolest idea appeared in panoramio ’til now. I’m always searching for new “Look Arounds” and I was wondering if the staff is thinking about a tool to summarize them (i.e. to have the complete list of available “Look Arounds”). At the moment, there are two ways, both coming from the users: you can use a “Look Around” tag (and I dislike a lot the few people who are putting a “Look Around” tag to all their photos to increase views) or you can submit a LA link in the forum. Maybe it could be worth thinking of a tool to show all “Look Arounds”.
I also suggest that Google Earth should use a different color for dots linked to pictures with the LA feature.
Great idea, my thanks, and let go on this way!
Nice photos!
I’m actually from Portugal, and you’re photos just made me more eager to discover my own country.
I often use “Look around” as a tool to find the best view and also the most beautiful photo of the place I have never seen before.
And sometimes, if there is many photos of the place I can realy discover the It.
Nice idea, Eduardo !
Let me know, whether Panoramio team choose photos to prepare “look around” feature, or anyone can do that anyway ?
Millotaurus, the Panoramio team does not choose the photos, they are chosen automatically by the “look around” algorithm.
Filipe, Portugal is one of my favorite countries, specially because many places are still untouched and very authentic.
Sekica and Sergio, I am very glad you like the “look around”. Thanks for the suggestion.
By the way, I just got a perfect 360º look around in this photo
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/12126260
Eduardo, I’ve uploaded many series of images to check de “look around” mechanism, and I’ve read it’ll can be till two weeks till it mounts (or not) it. ¿Will any advice be received? ¿or I must check it periodically?
Bona feina, nens!!
And just another thing (think
¿qhat about hidding all the images associated in a “Look Around”? It would do a better browsing in a “Look Around” lover user’s directory… May be an option in the profile…
guigonse, you will receive no notice, just check your photos periodically.
The first week in August, I posted two sets of closely overlapped shots (20 each) hoping to preview “Look Around”. Having a large percentage them selected for GE was nice. However, I am wondering what might trigger the “LA” process? Are there application rules such as the GE limitations on no interior, animals, or portraits? Is “LA” limited to large scenic vistas or historic sites? Considering the large quantity of frames, I’m inclined to pull most of them if they fail a qualification standard.
Eduardo, I’ve been looking for the LA process of my photos and no Look Around have been done (they begin with this one: http://www.panoramio.com/photo/13066674)
¿Is there any kind of selection process? Regards
Can anybody see pictures listed in this post? As I am getting message “This photo does not exist anymore” :/
The Look Around thing is very nice, quite a few of my photo’s appeared to be part of one of them .
Now, when I upload new photo’s in the very same area, which I have done, will they get included in the collection??
Geerten, just wait 2-3 weeks and your photos will get the “look around” if the match the other ones.
Yes!, Seen them. Great
ARGHH!! Mines not yet!! And I’m sure they match between them!! I’ve uploaded with same georeference (but shooted with diferent orientation, of course
One of them is here:
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/13066674
That gives inspiration. Especially the winning one. Thanks.
grasias por las fotos y por crear esta pagina