The 53 Billion Megapixel Image
Shocked,
well Bentley made this thing possible with NASA's technology used in the
Curiosity Mars Rover. The carmaker says they took it to another level to
highlight the "attention to detail" of the Mulsanne Extended
wheelbase. 104 meters wide. 53 billion pixels in total. And a single image so
large it can encompass the grandeur of the Golden Gate Bridge, while revealing,
on close inspection, the embroidered Bentley badge on the seat of a Mulsanne.
This is the world’s most extraordinary car photograph. It is a
demonstration of the company’s commitment to technological innovation and a
remarkable way to explore the detail of Bentley’s craftsmanship.
The challenge was to create an experience that could transport
the viewer from the epic world of panorama pictures to the intricate world of
Bentley craftsmanship – and the obsessive attention to detail that makes its
cars so unique.
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GETTING
CLOSER
The image captures the
new Mulsanne Extended Wheelbase, driving across the iconic bridge. On zooming
in, its sleek lines and exquisite duo-tone finish are revealed in all their
glory.
And the journey doesn’t stop there. Further
zooming reveals not just the exterior brightware of the car, but the
handcrafted interior details that make it truly unique.
A TECHNICAL CHALLENGE
The creation of the image was far from straightforward. To get
the range of viewpoints necessary, a ten-strong team, led by acclaimed
automotive photographer Simon Stock, captured the image as 697 smaller
photographs, using technology originally designed by NASA to take panoramic
photos of the Martian landscape.
Three Nikon D810 cameras were needed to capture the entire photo and, to keep everything in sharp focus, the lenses used ran from 200mm to 1500mm in length. But there were still physical limits to overcome. The further away from the car the camera was placed, the more dust and heat haze would obscure the camera’s view of the car, softening the image. And that’s before the team considered another crucial characteristic of the Golden Gate Bridge: it moves as the temperature and wind direction change.
Each set of captures took between two to four hours on a 500mm lens – and much longer when the focal length was increased. It took a whole day just to process the result at full resolution, with technical consultant Simon Sledder modifying the software controlling the camera mounts mid-shoot.
Three Nikon D810 cameras were needed to capture the entire photo and, to keep everything in sharp focus, the lenses used ran from 200mm to 1500mm in length. But there were still physical limits to overcome. The further away from the car the camera was placed, the more dust and heat haze would obscure the camera’s view of the car, softening the image. And that’s before the team considered another crucial characteristic of the Golden Gate Bridge: it moves as the temperature and wind direction change.
Each set of captures took between two to four hours on a 500mm lens – and much longer when the focal length was increased. It took a whole day just to process the result at full resolution, with technical consultant Simon Sledder modifying the software controlling the camera mounts mid-shoot.
BRINGING IT ALL TOGETHER
Retouching the image conventionally would have proven
impossible, due to the extreme file size involved. Consequently, it had to be
broken by retoucher Tony Swinney, once again, into segments that could be
handled by the studio computers before final re-assembly.
The finished picture is among the most striking images ever produced. It gives viewers the world over the unprecedented opportunity to explore the finest details of the Mulsanne Extended Wheelbase. Then, having completed their journey into the image, viewers are invited to delve deeper still, with an interactive 360o exploration of the interior of this remarkable car. From the grandest of gestures to the smallest of details, it is an experience unlike any other.
The finished picture is among the most striking images ever produced. It gives viewers the world over the unprecedented opportunity to explore the finest details of the Mulsanne Extended Wheelbase. Then, having completed their journey into the image, viewers are invited to delve deeper still, with an interactive 360o exploration of the interior of this remarkable car. From the grandest of gestures to the smallest of details, it is an experience unlike any other.
You can Explore the full image here.
Source : Bentley Motors
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