I was commissioned by the Middle East Youth Initiative, a Brookings Institution research project, to capture images of youth inclusion in Egyptian society. Very interesting topic for me and I must say it was a challenge. But the results are finally published!

Middle East Youth Initiative - http://www.ShababInclusion.org/

You can see the panorama photos in the flash-animated header in the homepage and there is a mention of me here too.

Mickael Therer has created his latest 360-degree panoramic scrapbook about Malaria in Mali. It is a powerful reminder how this disease is affecting the lives of millions but are not getting enough help.

This is great news for VR photographers like myself and as I’ve said before about this subject, more 360-degree photography will be used by online media in the near future.

Libération featured Gilles Vidal photos taken of Royal, Sarakozy, Bayrou and Le Pen.

VR Photographer Gilles Vidal gives us a front-row seat to this year’s presidential elections in France.

Ségolène Royal

Nicolas Sarkozy (UMP)

Street demonstrations against Le Pen

Amnesty International Australia (AIA) has built a life-sized replica of David Hicks’s Guantanamo Bay prison cell and is currently in Sydney’s CBD. AIA campaign coordinator Katie Wood said the idea behind the replica cell was to help people experience first hand the “dehumanising” conditions Mr Hicks has faced for more than five years.

Aussie VR Photographer, Peter Murphy, took a 360-degree VR photo inside this 1.8m by 2.4m prison so we can experience it ourselves. Click here to spend sometime in a Guantanamo Bay prison cell (requires Quicktime player).

See also AIA website to bring Hicks back home.

Local NGOs organized the 1st Street Children Day last friday (23rd February) which I attended, had a lot of laughs from the short plays and enjoyed the music. And of course there were also a lot of activities for children.

If you missed it, see it with audio here.

Hans Nyberg’s Panoramas.dk has featured my VR photo of a demonstration against harassment of women in the streets of Cairo. I’ve always believed in the huge potential of VR photography in the field of photojournalism (or as I call it, VR photojournalism). Especially if the photos puts a light on social issues that do not get local media attention.

I appreciate the recognition and will continue using VR photography to show things that matter.

I was pleasently surprised the past few months when VR photography was used in online editions of 2 respected newspapers: The Guardian and The Washington Post. They were used to cover current events and the 360˚ photography really added a new dimension to the reporter’s words.

But I am still surprised these 2 newspapers and others are not using it on a daily basis. Having an online edition allows these news organizations to provide updated news that is made available to be delivered where ever their readers are and allow readers’ comments. And since they are using an interactive medium like the web, they might as well use its full potential. VR Photography provides that immersive experience that adds to the journalists’ words and can not be replicated on the printed edition.

And there is no shortage in talent, just check IVRPA’s member list to find a VR photographer near you.

I do hear that there is an issue of digital manipulation that may occur while producing a VR photo which understandably is not tolerated in photojournalism. This goes back to the ethics of the reporter. A video news piece could be editted in a way to exagerate what is happening or words could be written to imply that something is fine when it is not. And like any new tool, there is a good way to use it and there is a bad way to use it.

Take a look at VR photography successes in photojournalism:

Travis Fox for the Washington Post: Attacks on Civilians Southern Lebanon | Reminders of War in Gaza | Pope John Paul II funeral.

Gary O’Brien for the Charlotte Observer: Soul Food on Clarkson Street | Flags of Remembrance.

Edward Fink for the Washington Post: New Orleans After Katrina.

Hans Nyberg for the Danish Radio: Danish Royal Wedding.

Mickael Therer for the Guardian Unlimited: Walking With Aids.

Dan Chung for the Guardian Unlimited: Ms. Cherie Blair at Labour Party Conference 2006 | Sir Menzies Campbell’s first speech at the Lib Dem conference in Brighton | Ming’s photocall at the Brighton seafront.

Since the motivation of VR photographers and news organizations are the same: To show a complete picture of what is important to people. I have a good feeling that the day when VR photojournalism becomes regularly used is coming soon.

Guardian Unlimited has featured the Belgian VR photographer’s captivating images taken when he followed MSF doctors over two weeks around Mozambique as they went on home visits to Aids/HIV patients.

I had featured his website ‘Walking With Aids’ before and have worked with him on Panoramas of World War 2 Landmarks and The War to End All Wars.

Good job Mickael!

The Guardian Unlimited recently featured 360-degree photos by staff photographer Dan Chung. You can see Sir Menzies Campbell’s first speech at the Lib Dem conference in Brighton and also Ming’s photocall at the Brighton seafront.

Ms. Cherie Blair made an appearance at Labour Party Conference 2006 with uncertainty of Tony Blair’s future drawn on her face.