Title: Giant (Tian Tan) Buddha
Location of Pano Shoot: Lantau Island, Hong Kong SAR, China.
http://www.virtualstudio.com.hk/
Technical Info:
Camera: Nikon F5
Lens: Nikkor 13mm f/5.6
Mount: Peace River 3Sixty
Tripod: Manfrotto 055C + 379
Film: Fuji Velvia
Scanner: Nikon Super Coolscan 2000 (LS 2000)
Post-processing: Adobe Photoshop, QuickTime VR Authoring Studio, MoviePlayer 3.0
The 202 tonnes Giant Buddha statue sits peacefully on a lotus throne on top of a three-platform altar. It symbolizes the harmonious relationship between people and religion, man and nature. By looking carefully, you may find the Po Lin ("Precious Lotus") Monastery at the bottom of the hill, the one with a big yellow roof. It acts as a major centre of Buddhism in Hong Kong.
It was not easy to shoot the world's largest, outdoor, seated bronze Buddha at a close distance. To shoot the 26m Buddha, simply using ultra wide-angle lens is not enough; you need to raise the camera to a high level also. But before that, there were hours of travel, by both ferry and bus, not to mention carrying tonnes of equipment up 268 steps to reach the statue. Fortunately, it was a sunny day, which makes everything worth. There are lots of details in this VR movie, enjoy zooming in and out!