“360º Panorama of Imambara, Hooghly — Shot with a 10-Foot Pole | Nikon D3X
In my study of 360º panoramas, I was and still am deeply impressed with the body of work photographer Roger Berrypossesses. The day I saw his panoramas, I was completely zapped and amazed by his creativity. He shoots all his panoramas from an 18-foot pole.
I asked myself — if he can, why not I?
Though I was already into 360º panorama shooting, doing it from 18 feet gives a completely different point of view of the landmarks and cityscapes one is shooting.
I spoke to Paras Mehta (camera equipment shop) and had a lengthy discussion on how and where to buy this custom-made boom pole. I also called up Rahmat Bhai of Rational Photographic in Kolkata, but no success.
I finally got hold of one such pole from the most famous lane where one can buy almost all camera accessories — Central Camera Lane. The only hitch was that it was 10 feet, not 18.
Manfrotto makes something around 17 feet, but at that time I didn’t have the money to invest in such a costly pole. So I settled for this inexpensive 10-foot boom pole.
The kind of panoramas I shoot requires a full-frame camera with a shaved Tokina fisheye — I had both. But what I did not have was the guts to attach this costly camera atop a cheap boom pole. I am brave, but not reckless enough to risk the camera. Nevertheless, I live on this belief:
“Jo hai aaj hai … aaj hi karna hai. There is no tomorrow. Aur meri dictionary mein IMPOSSIBLE naam ki koi jagah nahi hai. Jo thaan liya so thaan liya … karna hai toh karna hai … dil kiya hai toh bas ab toh karna hi hai. No pros and cons — just do it.”
So I attached the Nikon D3X on the 10-foot pole and did a test shot at my building terrace. It was successful.
👉 View the equirectangular photograph here
Shooting in Kolkata
The real test was to shoot outdoors on location — and my beautiful Kolkata trip gave me that opportunity.
I shot the Imambara, Hanseswari Mandir, and interiors of College Street Coffee House with the 10-foot pole.
When I saw the Imambara from this POV, even I was zapped! The cars, the ice cream trolleys, the cycle rickshaw walas looking up — all conjured up to give a beautiful perspective.
Kabhi kuch aisa kaam karna chahiye jisse hum khud rashk kar sake … hahahahahaha!
The Imambara, Hooghly
So here I proudly present the amazingly beautiful Imambara of Hooghly, probably for the first time shot from a 10-foot pole.
👉 View the 360º panorama — Imambara Hooghly (1)
👉 View the 360º panorama — Imambara Hooghly (2)
Shot with: Nikon D3X + Tokina fisheye (shaved), mounted on a 10-foot pole.
Thanks so much to Sir Roger Berry, whose panoramas continue to inspire me.”
You can also view his immersive portfolio here.
“Preserving history in 360º frames — every angle tells a timeless story.”
