<p><center><h1>Explore Earth in VR</h1></center></p>

<p>I found out today that Google released Google Earth VR for the HTC Vive. I downloaded the app when I got home, and let me just say it is jaw-dropping amazing! The ability to fly around any place on Earth and in human scale is simply breathtaking.</p>

<p>Seeing the Earth from space is also quite the experience, I felt a sense of awe and vulnerability, being alone in space is actually kind of scary! I wonder if this is what astronauts feel?</p>

<p><center><h1>Photographer's Tool</h1></center></p>

<p>I can literally spend hours in this app, there is just so much to explore. I can use it to scout locations ahead of time, and find new and fresh vantage points to compose my photos. I can see this being used by photographers worldwide once VR becomes mainstream.</p>

<p>Right now, many cities still lack full 3D, but I think in time that'll change. If they add in the ability to change time, then this app can be used to plan shots with moon/sun/milky way at a certain time of the year ahead of time! The possibilities are really endless.</p>

<p><center><h1>Screenshots of Places I Visited so Far</h1></center></p>

<table>
<tr><td><p><img src="http://www.steemimg.com/images/2016/11/18/20161118220353_1f4369.jpg"></p>
<p><center><h1>"Christ the Redeemer - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil"</h1></center></p></td></tr>
</table>

<table>
<tr><td><p><img src="http://www.steemimg.com/images/2016/11/18/20161118221140_19991d.jpg"></p>
<p><center><h1>"Summit of Mount Everest - Nepal"</h1></center></p><p>I moved the sun to near the horizon and watched a simulated sunrise from Everest. I then "skied" down its slopes!</td></tr>
</table>

<table>
<tr><td><p><img src="http://www.steemimg.com/images/2016/11/18/20161118221749_1120bb.jpg"></p>
<p><center><h1>"Colosseum - Rome, Italy"</h1></center></p><p>I went inside the Colosseum and took a seat in one of the upper areas.</p></td></tr>
</table>

<table>
<tr><td><p><img src="http://www.steemimg.com/images/2016/11/18/20161118222649_18d003.jpg"></p>
<p><center><h1>"Grand Prismatic Spring - Wyoming, USA"</h1></center></p><p>This place looks amazing even in VR, I also flew up into the nearby mountains to see if I could get interesting views of the spring from up there.</p></td></tr>
</table>

<table>
<tr><td><p><img src="http://www.steemimg.com/images/2016/11/18/20161118222936_1138a3.jpg"></p>
<p><center><h1>"Horseshoe Canyon - Utah, USA"</h1></center></p><p>Standing on the edge and looking down into the canyon. I also flew onto the other side, just to see what it looks like from over there.</p></td></tr>
</table>

<table>
<tr><td><p><img src="http://www.steemimg.com/images/2016/11/18/20161118223620_1cea03.jpg"></p>
<p><center><h1>"Monument Valley Park - USA"</h1></center></p><p>I flew around pretending to be a drone to compose this shot. I changed the sun to just above the horizon to get a nice red color.</p></td></tr>
</table>

<table>
<tr><td><p><img src="http://www.steemimg.com/images/2016/11/18/20161118224356_1d3efe.jpg"></p>
<p><center><h1>"Tokyo Tower - Japan"</h1></center></p><p>One of the few cities with 3D buildings to explore in Google Earth VR.</p></td></tr>
</table>

<p><center><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SCrkZOx5Q1M" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></center></p>

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