Immersive Landscapes

Immersive Landscapes (Digital Panoramic Photography for the Fulldome)

The Immersive Landscape class introduces students to the technologies of immersive dome imaging. It is sometimes known as wide format, panoramic, or 360 degree photography. A unique collaboration between Denver Museum of Nature and Science, Gates Planetarium, Science Discover at the University of Colorado at Boulder and STEM-A (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math through Art) students learn how to build landscape panorama images for projection on the planetarium dome.

iED_immersiveLandscapes

(Image of Immersive Landscapes academic poster presented at Immersive Education (iED) Summit at Boston College. Spring 2011)

Participants will explore the theory and practice of:

Panorama camera techniques in the field
- Wide angle, panoramic, fish eye
- Planning a Panorama (space, horizon, depth of field)
- Panoramic tripod head & using a tripod (panning)
Building Panorama images in Photoshop
- Dome resolution and aspect ratios (270 degrees/ 360 degrees)
- Segmented & stitched panoramas
- Parallax adjustments
Building an art show in Immersive environments
- Adobe AfterEffects and the Navegar ‘fulldome’ plugin tool
  
  **Digital exhibition for parents and guardians during the last day of the class

Phase 2: Practical Experience: Immersive Landscapes

Students will work individually and in groups to complete immersive projects.

Students will create a digital panorama photo series in the field
Each student will edit their panorama in the lab using Photoshop
Students will work with museum staff to adjust panorama's to dome specs using immersive software.

Phase 3: Finishing Process and Perspectives

An evaluation and feedback session will be held so participants can have an opportunity to improve in the future with regards to technique, skill, or style. A final immersive presentation at Gates Planetarium of student art will be shown at the end of the workshop.

Instructor: Jane Crayton (STEM-A & Science Discovery / Dan Neafus (Gates Planetarium)

Class-ography