When Don Bain and Landis Bennett chose the theme of ‘sanctuary’ for the fourth World Wide Panorama event, Don Bain wrote a thoughtful essay expounding the various meanings of the word as a way to generate some ideas for the photographers:

Sanctuary - originally, a consecrated place, a place where sacred things are kept. The sanctuary was the part of a Greek temple and later a Roman basilica where treasure was kept. In the Jewish Temple of Jerusalem it was where the Ark of the Covenant was kept, the sanctum sanctorum or holiest of holies. Roman basilicas evolved into Christian cathedrals and churches and the meaning evolved. In churches the sanctuary is defined as the part of the church where the altar is…Sanctuary can thus be taken literally - churches, cathedrals, basilicas, temples, mosques … … By tradition fugitives could not be pursued into or arrested in a sanctuary, providing another meaning: a place of safety and refuge…A sanctuary can also be seen as a refuge not just from the law, but from strife and turmoil … A sanctuary can be any place of refuge, a shelter from the pressures of life, a refuge from stress and danger. It can be a library, a private club, a corner of the garden, a lonely hilltop, a coffee shop, or a friendly tavern. It could be a basement workshop, a tree house, an artist's studio, a vacation cabin, a favorite campsite, even a hotel room or cruise ship cabin. People seek shelter in all kinds of places…

And so the WWP Sanctuary event began, with photographers from all over the world pondering the meaning and mentally perusing their own geographical vicinity to find an appropriate subject for their panorama submission. The results are as diverse as the participants and encompass snowy forest scenes, cozy cafes, temples, mosques, urban parks, housing for the homeless, many churches and a view of the earth from over the Indian Ocean.

This new addition in the quarterly WWP series was released New Year’s Day 2005, while the actual photography had to be done in the days leading up to the December Equinox – from December 18th to December 21st. (The Equinox marks the first day of winter in the northern hemisphere and the beginning of the summer south of the equator.) One hundred ninety-three photographers from 38 countries each contributed one virtual reality (VR) panorama, representing six continents (Antarctica is not represented). While many professional photographers participated, many amateurs and VR enthusiasts joined this increasingly popular event. And this was the first WWP event where seven photographers in the Middle East jointly presented their panoramas of Dubai, Egypt, Israel and Lebanon in the name of peace - there panos are titled 'Middle East Peace Edition'.

Participants had a week after the shoot to prepare and upload their panos, captions and descriptions, a process made more efficient by the programming talents of Markus Altendorff, who streamlined the submission procedure. Using browser-based forms, the WWP application was run in PHP with a MySQL database and editing was allowed only during the production period; when the period was over, all of the web pages were exported to a static website. A map was automatically generated when each contributor entered his or her geographic coordinates.

If you’re familiar with the previous WWP events, you’ll notice a few improvements on the website, namely: a ‘Photographer Profile’ page containing a photo of the photographer (if provided), links to all the WWP entries of each photographer, a biography and links to his or her website; an ‘All Participants’ list of all contributors to the four WWP events; and a link for a ‘Behind the Scenes’ story of the shoot.

Peter Kavanagh, A Man is Sleeping Here
Under the M4 motorway in Chiswick, West London, England, UK
Kavanagh writes: “There is a man (I assume it's a man) who is sleeping here, he is in a black plastic bag but I can only see his boots, they move, so I know he is alive. I think that he has 'lived' here for about 5 years.”
http://geoimages.berkeley.edu/WWP1204/html/PeterKavanagh.html

Markus Matern, At Fraunhofers Tomb
"Old South Cemetery" ("Alter südlicher Friedhof"), Munich, Germany
This black and white shows the tomb of German physicist and optician Joseph von Fraunhofer (March 6, 1787 – June 7, 1826).
http://geoimages.berkeley.edu/WWP1204/html/MarkusMatern.html

Mike Morper, Alex's Sanctuary
Trabuco Canyon, California, USA
Morpher captures the sanctuary of his six-week old son, Alex, sleeping in his crib. Find the hotspot in the window linking to another panorama.
http://geoimages.berkeley.edu/WWP1204/html/MikeMorper.html

Samir Ahmed Gulzar, Washed Away...
Ras Al Khaimah, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Part of the Middle East Peace Edition. Gulzar writes: “This particular panorama was shot on a deserted beach near Ras Al Khaimah. The only way to get here is by walking as there is always danger of a very high tide coming on. The house was destroyed in a flash storm in the early 80's. The one thing that I am guaranteed whenever I visit here is solitude and that is what everyone needs in a Sanctuary.”
http://geoimages.berkeley.edu/WWP1204/html/SamirAhmed.html

Brian O'Reilly, Saint Fin Barr's Oratory
Gougane Barra, County Cork, Ireland
Mountains and quiet in Gougane Barra
This panorama shows the sanctuary of Saint Fin Barr, patron saint and founder of Cork City. It is where he built his hermitage in the 7th century, although nothing remains of the building today.
http://geoimages.berkeley.edu/WWP1204/html/BrianOReilly.html

Nikos Pachtas, Inside an Orthodox Church
Agia Paraskeyi, Corfu Island, Greece
Paraskeyi writes: “The church of Agia Paraskeyi is a small church in the city of Corfu, Corfu Island Greece. It is a small church, beautifully decorated according to the orthodox tradition.”
http://geoimages.berkeley.edu/WWP1204/html/NikosPachtas.html

Piotr Popik, Cathedral of Holy Mary Assumption
Kielce, Poland
A colorful panorama of the Cathedral of Holy Mary Assumption in Kielce. “…In 1782 the Polish primate Michal Poniatowski established a unique etching on the front wall presenting the Polish alphabet, Arabic numerals, standard weights and measures and the main principles of the catholic religion for the education of the people,” writes Popik.
http://geoimages.berkeley.edu/WWP1204/html/PiotrPopik.html

Christian Hüller, Marabou's Hut
The Gambia
Huller: “This panorama shows the hut of a marabou in the Gambia. It contains a collection of objects that are necessary to do his work. People say that marabous have magic power and are able to heal people only by the power of their mind. The hut is based in the bush near the Gambia River.”
http://geoimages.berkeley.edu/WWP1204/html/ChristianHueller.html

Osamu Okada, Mohri Garden, Urban Sanctuary
Minato-Ku, Tokyo, Japan
The pano shows Mohri Garden lit up at night, in the Roppongi Hills district of Tokyo, where many people gather for work, restaurants and shopping. Mohri Garden is their sanctuary.
http://geoimages.berkeley.edu/WWP1204/html/OsamuOkada.html

Terry Kelly, Raptor Sanctuary
Ballarat, Victoria, Australia
Even birds of prey need sanctuary. “Featured in the panorama is a Nankeen Kestrel (a member of the Falcon family) being flown in the large aviary. The Central Highlands Bird of Prey Shelter is a private refuge owned and operated by Martin Scuffins.”
http://geoimages.berkeley.edu/WWP1204/html/TerryKelly.html

Fiore Cappone, The Sanctuary of the "Madonna della Grotta"
Praia a Mare (Cosenza), Italy
“The Sanctuary of the Madonna della Grotta in Praia a Mare is a place of devotion and pilgrimage of amazing beauty. Almost entirely carved out of a natural karst cave opening on the side of Mount Vinciolo … Inside, one can admire the chapel of La Madonna delle Neve with a valuable marble XVI century statue and the church that preserves a copy of the statue of Our Lady of the Grotto…”
http://geoimages.berkeley.edu/WWP1204/html/FioreCappone.html

Dani Fuchs, Bildstöckli Fuchsenstand
Brunnen, Switzerland
Fuchs: “The German word Bildstock, ‘Bildstöckli’ in Swiss German, stands for a little shrine on the side of a road. Often originated from a promise like: ‘If I come back healthy from war, I will…..’. Probably this tradition is even older then Christianity and mixes the Celtic practice of open-air sanctuaries with Christian figures. …With the Bildstöckli I wanted to show the tiny counterpart to all the fantastic, man built, powerful churches all over the world.”
http://geoimages.berkeley.edu/WWP1204/html/DaniFuchs.html

Andrew Jakowleff, "Orange Revolution" - massive protests in Ukraine
Krechatik Street, Kiev, Ukraine
Jakowleff’s panorama shows where thousands of protesters in the recent Ukrainian election found sanctuary, in their tent shelters.
http://geoimages.berkeley.edu/WWP1204/html/AndrewJakowleff.html

Philip Silver, Tintern Abbey
Gwent, Wales, UK
The ruins of Tintern Abbey, on the Wales/England border, originally founded by Cistercian monks in 1131 AD.
http://geoimages.berkeley.edu/WWP1204/html/PhilipSilver.html

Bruno Vandermarliere, Ferrari and Maserati Showroom
Antwerp (Wijnegem), Belgium
“A Ferrari and Maserati showroom is a true sanctuary for all car lovers in the world!”
http://geoimages.berkeley.edu/WWP1204/html/BrunoVandermarliere.html

Olivier Auverlau, La Compañia de Quito Church
Quito, Ecuador
A Baroque style cathedral in Ecuador, built about 1560. Be sure to tilt the pano up to check out the magnificent ceiling.
http://geoimages.berkeley.edu/WWP1204/html/OlivierAuverlau.html

Irene Blueth, Forest Mandala
Cortes Island, British Columbia, Canada
Blueth shares one of her favorite groves in the forest on Cortes Island, British Columbia.
http://geoimages.berkeley.edu/WWP1204/html/IreneBlueth.html

Edward S. Fink, People Serving People
Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
“I shot my ‘Sanctuary’ panorama of a homeless family inspecting their new room at People Serving People, an emergency housing shelter in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota that provides temporary rooms for up to 400 people, 60% of them children.”
http://geoimages.berkeley.edu/WWP1204/html/EdwardFink.html

Robert C. Fisher, Lake Shrine
Pacific Palisades, California, USA
“Sanctuary is a place we can rest, meditate, and rejuvenate the soul. In modern urban cities such as Los Angeles finding such a place can be daunting. The Lake Shrine of the Self-Realization Fellowship is a very peaceful park-like area devoted to meditation and peace. A portion of Mahatma Gandhi's ashes are enshrined here … A walking trail circles the lake and makes for a very peaceful stroll,” writes Fischer.
Who knew such lovely, peaceful places existed in LA?
http://geoimages.berkeley.edu/WWP1204/html/RobertFisher.html

András L. Frenyo, PIGS, a Sanctuary
Shepherdstown, West Virginia, USA
“Founded in 1992, PIGS, A Sanctuary is a place of refuge for abused, abandoned, neglected and unwanted animals. They specialize in the care of potbellied pigs and farm pigs, but shelter other farm and domestic animals as well. The Sanctuary currently provides a safe haven for approximately 450 animals, including potbellied pigs, farm pigs, horses, cows, cats, dogs, sheep, goats and many other species.”
http://geoimages.berkeley.edu/WWP1204/html/AndrasFrenyo.html

Helmut Schierer, A traditional Viennese Sanctuary
Cafe Sperl, Vienna, Austria
“The ‘Cafe Sperl’ is one of the most famous coffee houses in Vienna. It was built 1880, had survived two world wars, had seen generations of artists and writers having here their second home. Have a look at the lamps! They are from the early days, when gas was used to light the rooms. Now they have been modified to be used with electric power. But they are still the original ones!”
http://geoimages.berkeley.edu/WWP1204/html/HelmutSchierer.html

Some statistics
The most popular camera and lens used on the shoots were Nikon, the most widely used panohead was a Kaidan (followed closely by Manfrotto/Bogen, and the most widely used stitching software was from PTMac, PTGui and REALVIZ.

There are 38 countries represented: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Gambia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Lebanon, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Reunion (an overseas department of France), Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, UK, USA, Ukraine, and United Arab Emirates.

The largest number of entries were from the USA (54), followed by Germany (20), UK (15), Canada (11), Italy (9), Japan (7), France (6), Switzerland (5), and Sweden (4). There were 3 each from Ireland, United Arab Emirates, Denmark, Austria, Netherlands, and Portugal, 2 each from Norway, Slovenia, Spain, Taiwan, Greece, Chile, Poland, Israel, Mexico, and Belgium. Twelve countries had one each. (Thanks to Fiore Cappone and Don Bain for the stats.)

About WWP
All the WWP events are non-commercial and aim to foster the international community of VR enthusiasts and increase the general public awareness of VR photography; they also create a venue for the work of VR photographers.

If you are interested in the World Wide Panorama and wish to be on the mailing list, go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/wwp/ and sign up.

The World Wide Panorama is sponsored by the Geography Computing Facility at the University of California Berkeley. The site is hosted by The Geo-Images Project. This is a non-commercial project, done simply to create enthusiasm for VR photography, and provide an outlet for our collective creativity.

The World Wide Panorama events and web sites have been organized and created by Don Bain and Landis Bennett, graphics by Kat Kalamaras, maps and programming by Markus Altendorff.

For more information:
-Visit the web site at http://GeoImages.Berkeley.edu/wwp.html

Related Articles:
- The Original World Wide Panorama Event, March 20, 2004
- World Heritage - A World Wide Panorama, June 19-21, 2004
- Bridges - A World Wide Panorama, September 18-22, 2004

For further information contact the organizers: G. Donald Bain (dbain[at]Berkeley[dot]edu) and Landis Bennett (landis[at]360geographics[dot]com) or any of the participants (e-mail addresses are on the site).