8 Likes
Twin Falls, on the GR-1NC walking track, is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in New Caledonia. This image was taken after a long spell of heavy rains and it was really pumping.
This was a test of my new 7 camera SuperHero rig. I have 7 of these cute little GoPro cameras cuddled together on a rig that I can hang from a kite or hoist on a pole. Here it is hoisted on a telescopic carbon fibre pole (a fishing pole actually) about 5 metres above where I was standing. Turn them all on, hoist them up, presto - a sphere image. The whole rig weighs in at just under a kilogram and was easy to handle at the upper end of the 5 metre fishing pole as long as I didn't let it get too far out of vertical balance.
The resulting images had to be processed to balance the light and color because the GoPro is a miserable little thing for color balance when you point it at different angles to the sun. Also it does not do well when the image is half shady and half sunny. But the final resolution and color isn't bad at all.
Once I stiched one set of 7 any set of 7 images will have the exact same stitching characteristics. Which made it easy to set up a template in PTGui. Pop in the images, run the template and presto - a processed sphere.
Now if the weather starts cooperating I'll try the SuperHero dangling from a Kite out over the lagoon.
...
New Caledonia is the closest South Pacific Island to Australia and New Zealand. It is a French Territory and although the official language is French the culture is a blend of Melanesian, European, Polynesian, Vietnamese, Chinese, Indonesian, and more. There is one large mountainous island called Grande Terre and 6 smaller islands - the three Loyalty Islands, Belep and the Isle of Pines.The islands are remarkably unpopulated and there are vast areas of wilderness. There are hundreds of kilometers of walking treks, camp grounds, more than 42 parks and reserves, and crystal clear rivers with sparkling waterfalls. Almost one third of the population is located in the capital city of Noumea. Nickel mining is the primary industry and is the major contributor to the high standard of living in the country. Grande Terre is surrounded by the second largest barrier reef in the world and the protected lagoon created by this barrier reef is the largest in the world. Listed as a World Heritage Site in 2008, the lagoon is 24,000 square kilometers and supports a diverse and luxuriant fauna of fish and invertebrates.The vibrant, clear and rich colors are one of the first things that visitors notice when they arrive. Noumea has a complete range of hotels, resorts, restaurants, and activities to welcome visitors.
