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This is the pinnacle of my 2009 GigaPan effort :) 1000 feet up looking out on all of Houston ... what an experience, and I may be going back again.
From Wikipedia: The 75-story, 1,002-foot (305.4 m) tall JPMorgan Chase Tower of Houston, Texas, formerly the Texas Commerce Tower, is the tallest building in Texas, the tallest five-sided building in the world, and is the 45th tallest in the world. http://tinyurl.com/5qkn68 This hand-held panorama has been stitched using the GigaPan Stitcher software and the 26 photos comprising the panorama were taken with a Nikon D70 using a Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 lens and a Heliopan UV filter. Additional details can be found under Stitcher Notes. |
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The people that own this property, Allen and Mikey Isbell, are ministering to this congregation of people and are having Sunday Church Services in their greenhouse or sun-room as seen in this 360-degree panorama. A panorama of their actual church building has been seen in an earlier panorama: http://gigapan.org/gigapans/31296/ This congregation of people are waiting for the construction and repair of their building (Ike caused major interior damage) to be complete before they return, and each Sunday until then are meeting in the Isbell's greenhouse as explained in this newspaper articles from September and November, 2008: http://tinyurl.com/5ferpn and http://tinyurl.com/mkc4hk Over my lifetime, I have attended a few churches and have listened to a fair number of sermons, and I must honestly say that this service was sort of unique to me as I have never been among a group of people that have been through so much pain and agony as what these have been through this past year and still are excited about the work and the path that is set before them as they continue to help those that are in need in the city of Galveston, Texas. I was uplifted by Allen's sermon and was touched by their overwhelming friendliness and acceptance of me, a visitor, into their meeting place and would return more often if it were not for the long distance that separates Galveston from Houston. They have invited me back for their first church service in their renovated church building to take another GigaPan and I look forward to that occasion, whenever it may be. Note: This panorama can be seen in Google Earth as a beautiful 360-degree curved panorama on a curved surface by clicking the link, View in Google Earth. This hand-held panorama was taken with a Nikon D-70 using a Nikkor 28-80 f/3.3-5.6 G lens and was stitched using the GigaPan Stitcher software. Additional information can be seen in Stitcher Notes. |
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Note: an earlier GigaPan, http://www.gigapan.org/viewGigapan.php?id=30905 , did not include the panoramic view of Pasadena and the Houston Ship Channelarea as does this panorama.
Taken from the 24th floor of Hilton Americas Hotel: http://tinyurl.com/2og9ru An stunning view of Houston from Galena Park and the Houston Ship Channel area westward to the heart of the downtown area, especially so since there are two pillars not shown in this panorama, but yet the view can almost be considered seamless except that the railing shows where there should be a pillar(s). The GigaPan Stitcher comes though with flying colors on this one. The view, taken from the 24th floor and was breathtaking as I took it using my trusty Nikon D70 (soon to be retired) and a Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 lens. There is no Photoshop on this panorama, only the GigaPan Stitcher, and the collection of photos were taken hand-held. |
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By my count, this is the 100th GigaPan pertaining to Rice University and/or its students that has been uploaded to gigapan.org. And what a way to celebrate - playing tennis on main court in Jake Hess Tennis Stadium and we see two Rice students, Rebekka and Mecklin playing some tennis during the latter part of July. This beautiful panorama can be viewed in Google Earth via the link.... which you may believe is incredible when you see it. |
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Another view of the beautiful Tamara can be seen here: http://www.gigapan.org/viewGigapan.php?id=29457 Tamara, a beautiful woman form the State of Texas and her fiance, a footbal coach, pose in a panorama taken in Houston's Hermann Park by the reflection pool with a obelisk at one end and Sam Houston at the other. A great time was had by all and after we parted, they met with friends and continued having additional photos taken, which we may see again in an upcoming GigaPan. A view in Google Earth may be considered extraordinary. |
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There is a parable in Matthew 25 that speaks of feeding the poor. I believe that these words from 2000 years ago, as well as words from other religions of the world, create a foundation of the rich giving food to the poor and of wealthy nations providing sustenance to the poor nations that are in need. I am impressed by what Palmer Memorial Episcopal Church is doing and have created this panorama to show others what some people in Houston are doing on the local level to give nourishment to those who are in need. Since this church is across the stree from Rice University, I have added it to the collection of Rice GigaPans, which can be accessed via this link: http://tinyurl.com/RiceUniversity For this hand-held panorama, I used a Nikon D70 with a Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 lens and was stitched with the GigaPan Stitcher. The photos were taken over a period of two days. |
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An Update: The actual names of these two insects was provided to me by a very nice lady who works for the Museum of Natural Science and the correction has been applied. Actually, it is called the Cockrell Butterfly Center and Insect Zoo, but I have always heard it as the Butterfly Wing of the Museum. At any one time, it seems like there may be thousands of butterflies in this enclosure and in this particular panorama, we see a museum volunteer holding a Orange Giant Prickly Stick with Green Moving Leaf insect on his chest. Additional information concerning a Giant Prickly Stick can be found here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extatosoma_tiaratuma and information for the Green Moving Leaf is here: http://tinyurl.com/nyccbx Note: The Orange Giant Prickly Stick is from Australia and the Moving Green Leaf is from Malaysia. A full description of the Houston Museum of Natural Science, including an external photo of the Butterfly Wing, can be found here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Houston_Museum_of_Natural_Science This panorama was taken hand-held with a Nikon D70 camera using a Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 lens and attached to the camera was a SB800 flash unit. |
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This from Dave McGary's website, http://www.davemcgary.com/biography-of-dave-mcgary.htm
On February 22, 1998, Dave installed a 30-foot tall, 15-foot wide monument weighing over ten tons at the Houston Astrodome. The sculpture, “Touch the Clouds”, depicts a nineteenth century Miniconjou Chief who fought alongside Crazy Horse at the Battle of Little Big Horn. The project was announced at a ceremony and national media press conference in February of 1996, where Dave unveiled a 43 inch bronze Masterwork of the monument. Although the fine art collection owned by The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is extensive, Touch the Clouds is the first Native American depicted and the largest bronze figure of the sculpture collection. As I began to take this panorama, a MetroRail Train zoomed by heading south, and one can readily see the *zoom* movement. Taken on a very hot weekend in Houston using a Nikon D70 camera and a Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 lens. This stitched image was created using the GigaPan Stitcher software and additional details can be seen in the Stitcher Notes. Note: Reliant Park is home of the Offshore Technology Conference. |
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Actually, it is called the Cockrell Butterfly Center and Insect Zoo, but I have always heard it as the Butterfly Wing of the Museum. At any one time, it seems like there may be thousands of butterflies in this enclosure and in this particular panorama, part of the dome is visible and below it is the artificial rain forrest.
A full description of the Houston Museum of Natural Science, including an external photo of the Butterfly Wing, can be found here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Houston_Museum_of_Natural_Science A prize to the first to find a butterfly. This panorama was taken hand-held with a Nikon D70 camera using a Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 lens and attached to the camera was a SB800 flash unit. |
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Galveston is coming back from the devastation incurred due to Hurricane Ike. Buildings, once thought to be destroyed by some, are now being rebuilt.
Of some concern are the trees that line Broadway Avenue and one can see from this panorama that they are not healthy. If you go to Google Earth and view Galveston before they change the view from January, 2008, you will readily see how glorious Galveston once looked. In a few more days, the one year anniversary of Ike will be remembered, but for many, if not all on the Island, that particular Hurricane will never be forgotten. Additional information can be found here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Ike This panorama was taken with a Nikon D70 camera using a Nikkor 28-80 lens. The time of day was about 3PM and there had been recent rainfall. |