“Wow! How did you do that?” - I’m getting this comment on social networks every once in a while when I share another 360-degree photo - the one you can drag around to see all of the surroundings. It’s 2019 but people are still captivated by the level of immersion these spheric pictures give to us. And I love sharing them on Google maps.
I first started taking 360-degree pictures for myself when I learned how to do that with the Google Street View app. Some people still cannot believe that you don’t need a pricey VR-camera or a rig of GoPros to make these photos. All you need to do is a smartphone and the above-mentioned app.
So I’ve added a few of these photos to Google maps - and they started getting some traction. I noticed that it’s easier to get more views with spheric pictures because not many people are taking them.
Here’s my most viewed 360-degree photo of the Point Bonita lighthouse not far from San-Francisco:
I remember I’ve noticed this view on one of my friend’s Instagram profile and immediately put it on my bucket list. When I happened to be in San Francisco on a business trip I’ve taken an Uber to get there. When we arrived a nice lady who was driving me has decided to leave her Uber shift for a bit and also take a short hike to the lighthouse - that’s the power of the place.
Taking 360-degree pics requires patience and attention. Sometimes my wife gets crazy about me taking another go when I see that the first version was not stitched right. But ultimately she enjoys revisiting all those places we’ve gone together in all their 360-degree glory.
And now that I look at the view count on some of my photos I’m feeling satisfied that so many people have enjoyed the views - through my lens.
