Andrew Varlamov: Behind the scene : how this panorama was made During shooting period in Saint-Petersburg there was no such remarkable event like Montgolfiades Geneva Hot Air Balloon Fiesta or blossoming of the sakura trees in Japan. I dont regret about event absense, but I regret that it was impossible to shoot the Meteorological Pavilion as VR object (and to try complete ("adult") version of Pano2QTVR). In 1913 all four windows of Pavilion were filled by 3 devices (barograph, thermograph and hygrometer) and weather maps. Today north window (looking to Swedish Church) is closed by memorial plate describing history of renovation, and east window (looking to Cheboksarsky Pereulok and Griboedova Channel) is decorated by humble inscription "This Pavilion is serviced by ...". One half of VR object would be empty. Meteorological Pavilion was my plan A. My plan B was to shoot stone near place of mortal crash (1913) of Russian aviator Leo Matsievich at Komendantsky Airfield. In Tuesday evening I shot panorama for plan B, in Saturday - for plan A. First one was blurry (I set focal distance less than hyperfocal distance of Fish-eye lens) and boring. In 1970s Komendantsky Airfield was built by appartment houses, its streets were named in honor of russian aircraft designers - Kotelnikov, Korolyev, Polikarpov, Sikiorski, Ilyushin, but this panorama was more suitable for 'Garden' theme. Second panorama was more natural because place for shooting was crossroad. As You see the crossroad is fenced by Gaudi-styled flowerpots to prohibit car movement. It is here where the shortest route from metro station 'Nevsky Prospekt' to the State Hermitage Museum runs. Weather was sunny with little clouds, air temperature was equal 10 degrees of Celsius, but cold wind didnt permit to relax. At least after 3 trial series I took 6 photographs around, 1 for zenith (decreasing exposure by 1 step), 1 shot for nadir without tripod. Camera setting were the next: White Balance = Shade, Sensitivity = ISO 400, Aperture f/5.6, exposure time = 1/180 s, focal length = 10 mm, focal distance = hyperfocal (90 cm) (because distance wheel of Pentax DA Fish-Eye lens has got only 2 last labels 0.5m and infinity, distance index was set between these labels). Return