New website picture tours – Newark Air Museum

I’ve done some ‘stitched landscapes’ but I would never have considered the technique for a hangar situation.

What also really impressed me on the ‘tours’ was the ability to adjust the image view into variable “planes” [sorry for the pun I just couldn’t resist!], which gives you so much freedom to see what’s on display.

Like on the Vulcan cockpit shot you can pan down and see down the entrance ladder, amazing!

Pagen

It goes a little something like this…..

A tripod mounted camera that is tilted in portrait mode and fitted with a very wide fish eye lense, a series of shots are taken ‘around the clock’ at regular degrees of separation.

A computor program is then used to stitch the shots together and flatten out the fisheye effect, also the tripod is the magically photoshoped out!.

This I think is the amature way of doing it but there are specialist companys with much more sofisticated gear to produce a better end result.

IMHO Newark have taken a brave step and it has worked, It has given me some creative ideas for the next time I visit.

Regards,

John.

It makes me want to go more than ever (still haven’t made it yet!), seeing what exhibits are there and how they are presented. Im sure the public would feel the same way, website images are no substitute for standing next to a hulking great piece of aluminium, which smells of hydraulic fluid and sweat. Even if they dont feel that way, people still look for a good day out and somewher to take the kids.
This can only be positive for museums, anywhere that dosen’t push its self is running the risk of much lower visitor numbers.

By the way, how did they do it?!
Keep trying to work out how they got 360 degree images with no camera support in the way – it’s voodoo!

I’ve had another thought since my previous post.

I guess good websites provide information for people that can’t travel to a venue or who perhaps live overseas – that way the message can still be spread.

I guess Newark have figured this out because several years ago I brought one of their Virtual Museum CD ROMs, which details all the histories of their aircraft and engine collections. It also has video clips of the Vulcan delivery, footage of the Shackleton flying over a wedding and interviews with people who have flown their aircraft or who were based at RAF Winthorpe.

Keep everyone informed seems to be their approach and don’t miss their tours!

www.newarkairmuseum.org

A couple of interesting points have been raised – Joe Petroni saying there were not enough photos on their website originally and now Lindy’s Lad asking whether you can give too much information to people.

I must say that I was impressed with the views, which in the hangars seem to have been taken from very high up – this certainly gives a very different perspective than what you get from walking round those building at floor level.

The Vulcan cockpit tour was also very interesting; whilst I’ve been in that particular cockpit several times I can’t remember it looking so impressive.

I guess that there are lots of other things to see at most venues, Newark included. I wonder whether they will consider expanding the tours into the other aircraft that they sometimes open like the Shackleton, Hastings, Varsity etc?

Perhaps they might consider a tour being made at special events like Cockpitfest, which might be a good way to record a temporary event. I don’t know how the tours would cope with people.

Here’s a question:

Given the detailed information given on the website, and the 360 degree views available, does it make you more or less likely to want to go and see the museum? Having seen what is on site, had a virtual tour of the hangars, been given the histories of the aircraft, etc…is there any point going?

I must hasten to add that Newark is a great museum and is well worth a visit.

My question is a generic one. Can you put too much information on your web site and actually give people a reason to not visit?….:confused:

Thats really rather good.

I thought the new website was a bit short on pictures, but this feature more than makes up for it.:)

That is amazing stuff! In case nobody has sussed it, use your mouse on the image to get 360 view, including downwards.
Its good to see Newark pushing the museum website technology, it can only be positive for visitor numbers. People at home can then look around the hangars / aircraft at home after they have seen it in the metal. The Vulcan cockpit look around is also brilliant, looks like it could be used for flight simulation. Would be great to see this application used on every aircraft interior, and possible exterior, in a walk around fashion.
Excellent and hope Newark keep this up.

excellent stuff.

Roger Smith.