Comments on: Extreme Resolution Photography

Extreme Resolution Photography

kirkaracha — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 07:25:52 -0800

xRez: Extreme Resolution Photography. Gigapixel photos with a Google Maps-style interface. The photo of Boston is 95,000 by 40,000 pixels. [via]

By: Horace Rumpole

Horace Rumpole — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 07:51:26 -0800

The Boston shot is gorgeous, and so detailed I could probably recognize someone in Copley Square, assuming anybody I knew happened to be standing in Copley Square when it was taken. I had dinner at Top of the Hub on Friday night (the floor above the Skywalk) and had just about this view, which is even more breathtaking at night. I hope nobody in the forthcoming Simmons Hall shot was walking around naked with the shades open. On second thought...

By: TedW

TedW — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 08:04:52 -0800

Very nice; thanks!

By: Nelson

Nelson — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 08:38:50 -0800

These are great! Interesting to compare their technology to Gigapxl, another super-high resolution photography group. Gigapxl uses 9"x18" film, a single exposure, and scans the negatives. xRez is using standard digital cameras with automated multiple exposures and custom stitching software. Two very different approaches, both with great results. One drawback of the stitching approach is that your scene and lighting is changing while you take your multiple exposures. Then again the Gigapxl guys have built a huge amount of custom equipment to do what they're doing.

By: Malor

Malor — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 08:39:08 -0800

Hmm, a direct link to a file of that size may not have been the best idea.... :)

By: birdhaus

birdhaus — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 08:39:20 -0800

What are those plants growing on the roof of the Lenox? Herbs for the kitchen, or someone's pot patch? Seriously, this is amazing, and also more than a little creepy. If I can see the facial expressions and license plates in this picture, what kind of technology does the government have, and how are they using it? Brrrrrrr.

By: pardonyou?

pardonyou? — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 08:41:52 -0800

Thanks for the post. The Boston picture is interesting, and prompted a few thoughts: (1) Where is everyone? (2) Some of those rooftop patios are pretty elaborate, and (3) A camera that can capture that much detailed information could be a real invasion of privacy -- just think of the same picture taken at night (by the way, I realize the Boston photo is stitched together from hundreds of smaller pictures -- but still).

By: Laen

Laen — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 08:50:43 -0800

Hardest. Where's Waldo. Ever.

By: tfmm

tfmm — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 09:02:49 -0800

I was able to find an attractive female sunbather in the Boston scene. Very near the left edge extents, about 1/3rd the way up, on the rooftop.

By: cmonkey

cmonkey — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 09:06:28 -0800

xRez is using standard digital cameras with automated multiple exposures and custom stitching software. Is that why this section has a ghost and identical twins?

By: the Real Dan

the Real Dan — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 09:08:52 -0800

Fezzik:"Why do you wear a mask? Were you burned by acid or something?" Man in Black:"Oh no. It's just they're terribly comfortable. I think everyone will be wearing them in the future."

By: AwkwardPause

AwkwardPause — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 10:00:35 -0800

And there's a guy in a deck chair wearing very yellow shorts as well. (find him!)

By: asok

asok — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 10:10:30 -0800

a) American cities look like Sim City layouts. ii) Here is a big camera

By: Lord Kinbote

Lord Kinbote — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 10:11:11 -0800

pardonyou: (1) Where is everyone? a) It's summertime, and Boston is d-e-a-d in the summer; b) It's gotta be a Saturday or Sunday morning- if you check out the Hatch concert shell along the river (left edge, halfway up), there's a Oldies 103.3 Summer Concert Series banner, and the roadies are setting up the equipment for a concert. (2) Some of those rooftop patios are pretty elaborate I especially like the turquoise billards table, on the roof of the building at the corner of Dartmouth and Marlborough Sts. (left edge, halfway up) Who knew you could buy an outdoor pool table?

By: Lord Kinbote

Lord Kinbote — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 10:18:47 -0800

The Park Street Chuch clock shows 11:17-ish...

By: Lord Kinbote

Lord Kinbote — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 10:22:37 -0800

Just under the Copley Place pedestrian bridge, the back half of a USPS truck is missing, thanks to the stitching. Weirdly enough, you can see the whole truck reflected in the glass of the footbridge...

By: Civil_Disobedient

Civil_Disobedient — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 10:31:02 -0800

Where is everyone? There are plenty of people on the Common walking around.

By: dhartung

dhartung — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 11:09:06 -0800

Found truck (after checking map), found shorts guy, found pool table (looks like a rooftop pool zoomed out!), found a female sunbather standing behind a table. Now, imagine getting releases for gigapixel photographs ....

By: DieHipsterDie

DieHipsterDie — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 12:00:48 -0800

For you Bostonians, what's the airport in the background?

By: skynxnex

skynxnex — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 12:19:24 -0800

DieHipsterDie: That would be Logan International Airport (BOS)

By: armoured-ant

armoured-ant — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 13:18:41 -0800

Whoa. If we have this one the internet, what does the military have?

By: birdhaus

birdhaus — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 13:39:30 -0800

Much less creepy and incredibly beautiful are the time lapse links of Yosemite (here) and El Capitan (here). Now THAT'S a proper use of technology!

By: tfmm

tfmm — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 14:10:14 -0800

I realize the image is stiched, but this is funny/odd. If you zoom in on the Romanesque church, there's a severed leg lying on the sidewalk right below the rose window of the basillica. I'm pretty sure the leg was not walking, and oddly enough 3 ladies are pointing at it.

By: InnocentBystander

InnocentBystander — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 14:42:57 -0800

I love how you can zoom in on the big mirrored building and check out the backside of buildings. And am I the only one thinking of Blade Runner when he plays with this?

By: BillyElmore

BillyElmore — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 14:49:42 -0800

"What are those plants growing on the roof of the Lenox? Herbs for the kitchen, or someone's pot patch?" Funny, while I was checking those plants out--not pot I don't think--I was wondering what da PoLeese would do with technology like this. I'm putting in my order for a shot here in California. I recommend the Hollywood Hills in summer, lots of pools, can't have those tan lines in the moPixBiz. My my. How about a night shot of Rio?

By: sonofsamiam

sonofsamiam — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 14:53:29 -0800

And am I the only one thinking of Blade Runner when he plays with this? I am always thinking of Blade Runner.

By: sergeant sandwich

sergeant sandwich — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 15:38:24 -0800

And am I the only one thinking of Blade Runner when he plays with this? totally. every time i double-clicked, i heard in my head harrison ford saying "enhance... enhance..."

By: -harlequin-

-harlequin- — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 17:09:55 -0800

So let's say I'm tempted to do something like this myself. I can handle the shooting and stitching. How easy is it to set up one of those neat googlemaps interfaces on a web page? Is there a guide somewhere? Does it involve licensing or something?

By: Listener

Listener — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 17:37:12 -0800

It's neat-o, but I feel like I'm spying on the two guys in wheelchairs and the blonde behind them with the low-cut top, slouching as she comes out of that building. In a public place it's legal to take a photo of anyone, but still...it seems wrong somehow and yes, creepy as hell. Cool, but creepy.

By: inoculatedcities

inoculatedcities — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 17:57:57 -0800

I can see where I work in that photo of Boston... ...Boston is much nicer from a few hundred feet up!

By: thirteenkiller

thirteenkiller — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 17:59:21 -0800

This is really cool.

By: kirkaracha

kirkaracha — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 18:10:45 -0800

Google Maps API

By: ab3

ab3 — Tue, 19 Dec 2006 01:57:39 -0800

anyone else notice that most of the cars license plates appear to have been intentionally blurred? there are a few instances where i can read advertisements on nearby streetsigns or bumperstickers on the cars that are definitely smaller than license plate characters, but the license plates are blurry. also, I found almost exactly half of a postal truck. funny.

By: hoskala

hoskala — Tue, 19 Dec 2006 03:28:57 -0800

There is somebody sleeping at his desk in the red brick buildning in the center of the pic. 10th floor, third window from the right. Creeepyy.

By: kirkaracha

kirkaracha — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 21:31:40 -0800

On the corner of Dartmouth (left-to-right) and whatever the up-and-down cross street is, a woman's exiting the crosswalk as her ghost is crossing the street. Also, there are two versions of the same guy on the corner.