Mabuhay sits down with Filipino photographer ROMMEL BUNDALIAN, whose unique 360° photography landed him a commission with the Macau Government Tourist Office for their promotional photos.
Colors, shapes, light, and motion are captured in this shot of the Grand Lisboa. Rommel had to wait until 4a.m. so that there will be less people and that the details of the place will be clearly shown on the photo.
Colors, shapes, light, and motion are captured in this shot of the Grand Lisboa. Rommel had to wait until 4a.m. so that there will be less people and that the details of the place will be clearly shown on the photo.
When did you start doing 360° virtual reality (vr) photography?
My interest in the subject started way back in 2006 when I was in Europe and saw images of 360° VR photography exhibit in Paris. I found the ability of the photographer to make still photography come alive and navigable fascinating.
How do you go about it?
I bought and studied books on the subject, procured the basic equipment, then started playing around with a few photographs. It took me about six months of experimenting and practicing before I could come up with a decent result.
Do you have special equipment?
360° VR photography is roughly 50 percent basic photography, and 50 percent post production. Anyone interested in getting into it should invest in a good DSLR camera, a tripod, and a panoramic head for the photography side; and a suitable Mac/PC with post-production software.
What is your dream assignment?
Because of the technical challenges incident to underwater photography, my dream assignment would probably be a 360° VR photography underwater location like the Tubbataha Reef, a U.N. Heritage Site in Palawan, Philippines.
What are the common challenges you encounter?
360° VR photography is enhanced still photography. 360° VR photographers need to be adept at using post-production software. A good eye for details is a must.
What are the advantages of specializing in 360° photography?
I find that 360° photography broadens my view of subjects, for it requires a more holistic view and a higher attention to detail in selecting shots. Whereas in regular photography, I am limited by the four corners of the frame, in 360° photography, my frame is a sphere.
Do you have any projects you wish to promote?
As I am an avid traveler and mountaineer, I developed an iPhone/iPad app that catalogs some of the places I’ve visited, naturally in 360° VR. The name of the app is 360° Island Philippines. It is a free app and I invite your readers with iPhones and iPads to download it from iTunes.
For more information on Rommel’s works, visit www.360virtualphilippines.blogspot.com or www.rommelbundalian.com.