GigaPixels Panoramas

ks Darkroom GigaPixels Panoramas is a section dedicated for the ultra high resolution Panoramic images that i shot. The technology involved for creating such very high-resolution images consists of taking a large number of high-resolution digital photographs and then stitching them later on a computer using a special software. I use the GigaPan Epic Pro for my work and Canon equipment.

Beirut Downtown GigaPan | Lebanon

Posted by Karim Saad
BCD GigaPan
Beirut Central District | 7 Gigapixels

Beirut Downtown GigaPan was shot on December 27, 2010 at around 10:00AM. It was stitched from 985 images taken with the Canon 550D (t2i) and the Canon Telephoto EF 200mm f/2.8L II USM Autofocus Lens. I also used the Manfrotto Tripod 055CXPRO3 Carbon Fiber + Manfrotto 468MGRC4 Magnesium Hydrostatic Ballhead. As for the pano head, I used the GigaPan Epic 100 robot.

The shoot took one hour and the resulting GigaPan is equivalent of a 7 Gigapixels image.

Field of view: 191.5 degrees wide by 51.8 degrees high

Click here for the full resolution Gigapanorama

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The Making of pictures:

The Beirut Central District (BCD) is the name given to Beirut’s historical and geographical core, the “vibrant financial, commercial, and administrative hub of the country.” It is situated on the city’s northern coast and includes many monuments and places of importance to the citizens of Beirut, including Martyrs’ Square.
Beirut Central District is sometimes called Solidere, after the company of the same name founded by Rafik Hariri that has undertaken reconstruction of the neighborhood after the Lebanese Civil War.
Source Wikipedia

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Jebel Hafeet | Al Ain, UAE

Posted by Karim Saad

Jebel Hafeet (Arabic: جبل حفيت‎) (variously translated Jabal, Jabel and Jebal) is a mountain primarily in the United Arab Emirates on the outskirts of Al Ain in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.[1] The mountain actually straddles part of the border with Oman. The mountain rises 1249 meters and offers an impressive view over the city. Jebel Hafeet was a well-known landmark throughout the area’s history and is a contemporary tourist attraction. An extensive natural cave system winds through Jebel Hafeet.


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The Cedars of God | Lebanon

Posted by Karim Saad

The Cedars of God (Arabic: أرز الربّ‎ “Cedars of the Lord”) are among the last survivors of the extensive forests of the Cedars of Lebanon that thrived across Mount Lebanon in ancient times. Their timber was exploited by the Assyrians, Babylonians and Persians as well as the Phoenicians. The wood was prized by Egyptians for shipbuilding; Solomon used them in the construction of the First Temple in Jerusalem and the Ottoman Empire also used the cedars in railway construction.

In 1998, the Cedars of God were added to the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cedars_of_God


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This Gigapan was taken from the Famous Ski Slopes of the Cedars from an altitude of around 2,300 m.
It was produced from 540 single shots of 18MP taken with the Canon EOS 550D (T2i) using Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM Lens.

In the foreground you can see the Cedars forest and the village
In the middle ground you can see villages like Bcharre, Bqaa Kafra, Hadchit and the Famous Holy Valley Kadisha http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kadisha_Valley
In the background you can see Diman, Ehden and other villages.

Bruj Al Arab | Dubai

Posted by Karim Saad
Hotel Burj el Arab
Burj Al Arab Hotel, Dubai | 650 Megapixels, July 11, 2010

The Burj Al Arab (Arabic: برج العرب‎,Tower of the Arabs) is a 5-star rated luxury hotel located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. At 321 m (1,053 ft), it is the fourth tallest hotel in the world. The Burj Al Arab stands on an artificial island 280 m (920 ft) out from Jumeirah beach, and is connected to the mainland bya private curving bridge. It is an iconic structure whose shape mimics the sail of a ship. Source Wikipedia.

This image was taken from the entrance of Souk Madinat Jumeirah.

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