xRez Gigapixel Photography

For the guys at xRez, it’s all about “extreme resolution”.

We’re not talking megapixels here, we’re talking gigapixels - with resulting images that are so highly detailed, you can zoom in to even the tiniest object in the distance and bring it in with clear and crisp fidelity.

xRez is like a studio, or a collective of photographers who are commissioned for special projects. They have some unique and highly specialized equipment designed for the purposes of gigapixel level panoramic work, high dynamic range photography, large scale “full dome” panoramas, etc. It’s the sort of stuff we all dream of doing, but very rarely get a chance to.

By combining powerful 3d tools and techniques appropriated from the visual effects field, possibilites arise of new imagery and animation that are truly novel and unprecedented. Applications of these new techniques can range from experiencing stunningly large prints in fine art gallery installations, providing a substitute to live-action shooting in feature film backgrounds, and enriching a national park visitors understanding and interpretation, to name a few.

The team currently consists of Greg Downing (who specializes in 3D based imaging), Eric Hanson (a visual effects designer), and Ron Shirley (a film and photography major) and together they have worked on visual effects for numerous outfits and companies. All these guys are teachers as well as professionals, and they’ve got some interesting work in their online portfolio that shows off this gigapixel obsession.