VR Photography goes by several names: Spherical Panoramas, 360 Panoramics, 360 x 180 Panoramas. Virtual Reality Photography is a visual art technique which allows the viewer to see a photographed scene as if the viewer was at the location themselves. It is just as if you are standing somewhere and turn from side to side, then looking down at your feet then looking upwards to the ceiling or sky. You can even zoom in and out from within the image. It is truly an interactive visual medium.
On most computers all one has to do is click directly on the appropriate Photo thumbnail.. Most images will rotate on their own. To explore these images further, simply place the mouse curser over the image, depress the left mouse button and move the curser around the image. Try panning from side to side or up and down. You can zoom in by depressing the shift key and zoom out by depressing the CTRL key. If your computer does not have Adobe Flash preloaded you will not be able to view the images. This helper program is a free download to PCs and Macs. For Adobe Flash click on the link below.
Fascinated by lighthouses? I think they make interesting Spherical Panoramic images. I hope to create spherical panoramic images from the lantern rooms of all North Carolina lighthouses. I am presently working on an educational web site concerning NC Lighthouses. Hopefully, Cape Lookout Lighthouse will be shot sometime before July.
The Old Cape Henry Lighthouse was the first public works project created by the US Congress. This lighthouse guided ships entering from the Atlantic Ocean to the Chesapeake Bay. The lighthouse was completed in 1791. Seen within this VR Photo is the New Cape Henry Lighthouse which replaced the original in 1881.
Click on the above image for the complete interactive panorama.
"Old Baldy" is the oldest existing lighthouse in North Carolina. This lighthouse guided ships into the mouth of the Cape Fear River. This lighthouse was built in 1817. Today it serves as the focal point for the resort community at Bald Head Island.
Click on the above image for the complete interactive panorama.
Currituck Beach Light Station, Corolla, North Carolina
Currituck Beach Lighthouse is the most northern of North Carolina's lighthouses. It was built is 1875. It still uses it's original first order Fresnel Lens. The lantern was originally illuminated by lard burning lamps. Today it is illuminated by a 1,000 watt incandescent lamp. The light cycles every 20 seconds with 3 seconds on and 17 seconds off. The light can be seen approximately 20 miles out to sea.
Panoramic View of Currituck Beach Lighthouse at Dusk
Click on the above image for the complete interactive panorama.
Currituck Beach Lighthouse - Stairwell, Corolla, NC
The staircase of lighthouses are almost as interesting as the view from the top. This image was taken 82 feet from the ground, or about halfway from the top. Use your mouse or button on the image and view the stairwell from above and below.
Click on the above image for the complete interactive panorama.
The present lighthouse on Bodie Island is actually the third lighthouse on this site. The original was built in 1847. It was built without an adequate foundation and was replaced by a second lighthouse in 1859. The second lighthouse was destroyed during the Civil War by Confederates in 1861. The present lighthouse was built in 1872. This lighthouse and the Currituck Lighthouse were built from the same plans. Bodie Island Lighthouse is presently undergoing a much needed restoration at this time. Hopefully it will be restored to its previous splendor soon. Completion of restoration is anticipated complete by 2011. Stay tuned!
Click on the above image for the complete interactive panorama.
Bodie Island Lighthouse underwent a complete restoration from 2009 to early 2013. When completed Bodie was effectively a new lighthouse. Compare this panorama to the panorama above. This panorama was taken on January 26, 2013 just a few weeks before its restored first order Fresnel lens was replaced in the lantern room. Look closely, no holes in the roof, no broken windows, no rust, replaced deck prisms in the catwalk. The last time someone had an unobstructed view from the top of Bodie Island LH was in 1872!
Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, Buxton, NC
Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is the tallest lighthouse in North America. Some lighthouses allow safe passage to bays, inlets and harbors, some warn of danger. Cape Hatteras Lighthouse warns ships of the dangerous Diamond Shoals just off the coast of North Carolina. These shoals which extend off the coast for greater than twenty miles offshore helped give North Carolina's shoreline it's reputation of Graveyard of the Atlantic. The original lighthouse was built in 1803. The original was felt inadequate and was replace by this one in 1870. This lighthouse is 210 feet tall. There are 268 steps which lead to it's Lantern room.
Click on the above image for the complete interactive panorama.
Ocracoke Lighthouse is North Carolina's oldest and America's second oldest operational lighthouse. Old Baldy is five years older however it no longer has an operational lantern. Ocracoke became operational in 1823. It is illuminated by a fixed white light with a Fourth Order Fresnel Lens. If you look closely you will find glaze on recently replaced windows and painters tape. The lighthouse was in the process restoration when the image was created.
Click on the above image for the complete interactive panorama.
Cape Lookout Lighthouse, Cape Lookout NC
The present Cape Lookout Lighthouse was built in 1859. This was the second lighthouse built in this location. The original was too short and it's light insufficient to properly warn ships of Lookout Shoals. The present Cape Lookout Lighthouse was much taller than the original lighthouse. This newer lighthouse originally housed a first order Fresnel lens which projected light from a gas lit lantern twenty miles to sea. The Fresnel lens was removed and replaced with two rotating two thousand watt airport beacons in 1975.
Click on the above image for the complete interactive panorama.
Click on the above image for the complete interactive panorama.
Price's Creek Lighthouse is an inland lighthouse and is the only remaining remnant of the Cape Fear River range lights. These range lights guided ships from the Atlantic Ocean to Wilmington, NC. This lighthouse was completed in 1850. It's lantern room originally housed a small sixth order Fresnel lens. It was originally built as a twenty foot tower but was later heightened by about six feet. The lighthouse was damaged by cannon fire during the Civil War. The tower also served as a signal tower by the confederates and helped guide blockade runners to Wilmington during the Civil War.
Click on the above image for the complete interactive panorama.
Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse in Manteo Harbor is replica of a screw-pile Lighthouse. Lighthouses like these served as beacons for inland waterways. Although this is a replica, it sports an authentic Fourth Order Fresnel Lens which has been loaned to Manteo by the US Coast Guard.
Click on the above image for the complete interactive panorama.
Saint Thomas Episcopal Church in Bath, North Carolina is the oldest church in North Carolina. It was built in 1734. Sunday services continue even now.
Click on the above image for the complete interactive panorama.
Click on the above image for the complete interactive panorama.
Click on the above image for the complete interactive panorama.
My Back Yard in Snow
Please note that I do not call this My Backyard in Winter. It rarely snows in eastern North Carolina and It thought this looks nicer than the drab scene typically seen in my backyard during winter.
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Downtown Kinston, NC from above
Here is a bird's eye view of Kinston, NC from the roof of the former Farmer's Bank & Trust located on Queen Street in Kinston, NC.
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Fall Foliage at Cliffs of the Neuse
This panorama was made in November 20, 2010. It was captured at the Cliffs of the Neuse State Park near Seven Springs NC.
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Lower Cascade Waterfalls at Hanging Rock State Park, NC
Click on the above image for the complete interactive panorama.
Click on the above image for the complete interactive panorama.
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