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South => Texas Renaissance Festival => Topic started by: KiltedPrivateer on October 27, 2009, 12:25:25 PM

Title: TRF in Google Streetview - I wish
Post by: KiltedPrivateer on October 27, 2009, 12:25:25 PM
So I'm putting together a small scavenger hunt for my clan on AHE weekend.  And I'm thinking to myself as I try to pose clues, "Damn I wish I had a better view of the inside of the TRF grounds, my pictures just aren't showing me what I want to see."  Then I recall hearing about the Google Streetview Trike, and a project to capture places nominated by we the people.

Would that be cool to virtually walk the paths of faire?

Here is the trike story - http://google-latlong.blogspot.com/2009/10/street-view-we-can-trike-wherever-you.html

And here is where you nominate places to be captured - https://services.google.com/fb/forms/streetviewussuggestions/?utm_campaign=en&utm_medium=van&utm_source=en-van-na-us-gns-svn-maps/trike

Even if we don't get googles street view, I think it would still be cool to have a virtual tour of faire.  Or maybe its just the rennie geek in me (o:
Title: Re: TRF in Google Streetview - I wish
Post by: Mouse on October 27, 2009, 12:32:49 PM
Consider mine submitted...and it's the ren geek in us all. Heck, I watch the TRF cams on weekdays..oh, a leaf moved. Ohh, ahh. Trust me, it's a fever you can't and wouldn't want to sweat out.
Title: Re: TRF in Google Streetview - I wish
Post by: Aiacha on October 27, 2009, 01:42:48 PM
Nominated  :)  That would be cool, be able to share TRF with people who may never be able to go.
Title: Re: TRF in Google Streetview - I wish
Post by: will paisley on October 27, 2009, 01:54:47 PM
In the meantime, somebody there might want to put together some panoramas with Ulead 360.  I did that for about half a dozen spots in MDRF once upon a time and had them up on my rensites web site (before the owner had server issues).  Back then, their 360º viewing tool had to be run on the client, but they've probably got some java/web plugin by now.
Title: Re: TRF in Google Streetview - I wish
Post by: wyckdblyss on October 28, 2009, 09:35:50 AM
Submitted my nomination... ;)
Title: Re: TRF in Google Streetview - I wish
Post by: bellevivre on October 28, 2009, 12:46:05 PM
REALLY good idea! and one to pass on to Sherwood- what about an interactive map that you can click on and go to that view?
Title: Re: TRF in Google Streetview - I wish
Post by: KiltedPrivateer on October 28, 2009, 01:29:46 PM
I like the 360 virtual tour idea too.  Wish I had enough pictures to do it with.  Any enterprising photographer wanna give it a try?
Title: Re: TRF in Google Streetview - I wish
Post by: bellevivre on October 28, 2009, 03:41:45 PM
Ultimately, you'd need off-hours access... I will say though that I volunteer for Sherwood, once complete- I now have a monopod and so can very easily do 360s of the streets...
Title: Re: TRF in Google Streetview - I wish
Post by: KiltedPrivateer on October 28, 2009, 04:52:11 PM
Yes, this would definitely require assistance/acceptance from the faire.  I can't think of any reason why they wouldn't allow it though.
Title: Re: TRF in Google Streetview - I wish
Post by: will paisley on October 28, 2009, 05:00:52 PM
Quote from: bellevivre on October 28, 2009, 03:41:45 PM
Ultimately, you'd need off-hours access... I will say though that I volunteer for Sherwood, once complete- I now have a monopod and so can very easily do 360s of the streets...

Only if you wanted the view to be completely free of people.  Granted, you can't make everybody stand still in the areas where your pictures overlap, so the software will occasionally create a few transparent "ghost" people.  I deliberately waited for Mimi the mime and her mime family to move around before taking the next picture, so I could have multiple mimes in the picture (Iexplained the discrepancy in the caption by saying "A mime is a terrible thing to waste").

While empty streets may emulate Google streetview better, streets with people give a better representation of what faire looks like to everybody.  I know when I see pics of faire taken in the off-season, with the streets and shops deserted, it looks pretty depressing.
Title: Re: TRF in Google Streetview - I wish
Post by: dbaldock on October 28, 2009, 06:53:11 PM
Quote from: will paisley on October 28, 2009, 05:00:52 PM
Quote from: bellevivre on October 28, 2009, 03:41:45 PM
Ultimately, you'd need off-hours access... I will say though that I volunteer for Sherwood, once complete- I now have a monopod and so can very easily do 360s of the streets...

Only if you wanted the view to be completely free of people.  Granted, you can't make everybody stand still in the areas where your pictures overlap, so the software will occasionally create a few transparent "ghost" people.  I deliberately waited for Mimi the mime and her mime family to move around before taking the next picture, so I could have multiple mimes in the picture (Iexplained the discrepancy in the caption by saying "A mime is a terrible thing to waste").

While empty streets may emulate Google streetview better, streets with people give a better representation of what faire looks like to everybody.  I know when I see pics of faire taken in the off-season, with the streets and shops deserted, it looks pretty depressing.


Do you have to blur the faces or get model releases from all the people in your shots?  How is that handled for shots on private property?


I've got a good steady tripod with a bubble-level in the head and a Nikon D90 with a 10mm - 24mm lens (109° Field of View at 10mm), so 4 shots would give plenty of overlap for a 360° Panoramic shot.

Take Care,
David Baldock
Title: Re: TRF in Google Streetview - I wish
Post by: knarlyknot on October 28, 2009, 08:28:48 PM
I don't know about personal photos but by purchasing a ticket or entering the gate you give TRF permission to photograph you and use the prints without compensation. 
Title: Re: TRF in Google Streetview - I wish
Post by: Sonata on October 28, 2009, 11:58:20 PM
I petitioned Google, and also crossed posted this to all my Yahoo ren groups!
Title: Re: TRF in Google Streetview - I wish
Post by: will paisley on October 29, 2009, 08:57:47 AM
Quote from: dbaldock on October 28, 2009, 06:53:11 PM
Do you have to blur the faces or get model releases from all the people in your shots?  How is that handled for shots on private property?


I've got a good steady tripod with a bubble-level in the head and a Nikon D90 with a 10mm - 24mm lens (109° Field of View at 10mm), so 4 shots would give plenty of overlap for a 360° Panoramic shot.

Take Care,
David Baldock

If you were taking a photo of an individual and publishing it in the paper or a magazine, a model release would definitely be in order.  Ditto if you featured them as a model on a commercial website.  As was mentioned, TRF wouldn't need anything were it to be hosted on their website.   If Joe Rennie put it up on a fan site, I doubt you would need anything, or that anybody would care. At most, somebody might discover that their pic was up on a fan site, and they'd comment "Hey, that's me!" and tell their friends about it.  People put up shots of faire all the time, both on flickr/webshots/photobucket (and linked to here) and on facebook, and nobody's getting releases for the people in the background.  For that matter, I don't believe releases are required for crowd scenes, even in the picture is for commercial use.  We've had a documentary filming at MDRF for the entire 2009 season, and the director hasn't been getting releases for people in the background. I know the people producing the documentary, so I can get clarification if you wish.
Title: Re: TRF in Google Streetview - I wish
Post by: bellevivre on October 29, 2009, 09:43:56 AM
At TRF, and I'm sure this goes for most other faires, the ticket you purchase for admission is also a contract essentially stating that by purchasing said admission, you acknowledge the fact that your image may be used for promotional purposes by the Faire or its designees.

hence, no need for releases.