A Forest Path Photo Portal

This simple picture of a forest boardwalk path is part of my latest photo portal project. When opened in a separate page, this picture links into a 360 panorama that was taken at the same position of the picture itself. While the picture is processed for artistic effect, the panorama represents what would have been seen by unaided vision if standing there. Thus, one can compare the two ways of seeing – naturally, and artistically.

In order to experience the panorama, click on the following link: https://link.wholereality.net/C250909

A separate page should open showing the same picture. Click on that picture, and it will change to the panorama. Click and drag to move around, and use your mouse wheel to zoom in and out. (Alternatively, you can swipe and pinch to do the same thing on a phone or tablet.) Click the panorama at the location that shows the photo, and it will return to the picture.

“Photo Portal” is what I call combinations of photography and 360 panoramas in which the photograph was taken at the same precise point, but possibly with different photographic parameters such as focal length, depth of field, exposure, and so on. It may also be processed differently.

The result is a picture that, because of its alignment, is clearly taken in the same place as the panorama, and is clearly an element in the panorama. However, it may look much different, highlighting aspects of the object in ways typically used in photographic art.

The comparison of these two images (which the URL above allows) is interesting and illustrative of many artistic, cognitive, and even philosophical topics. Plus, they are a very fun and interesting challenge to make.

This is the first photo portal that I’ve made of a path. And while it definitely could be improved, I think it’s still an interesting experience.

In this case, the picture was also used in the latest World Wide Panorama project, and can be seen here.