There are rare and beautiful places in this country, places filled with an inimitable natural majesty and grandeur, places that people come from all over the world to see and experience. These places are so special, in fact, that they have been set aside and protected as our national parks. Within the boundaries of those parks, the world moves at a different speed, unhindered by the pressures and stresses of modern living. If you’ve ever spent time wandering through one, away from all the lights and sounds and tumult of daily life, you’ll recall the distinct sense of peace and relaxation that washes over you. There is a stillness and a tranquility there that cannot be found anywhere else.
VR Playhouse, along with experienced outdoorsman and spherical filmmaker Jay Whittaker, has set out to capture that amazing diversity in a series of short, virtual experiences. Jay has traveled across the western United States, filming on location at some of the jewels of our National Parks Service. Below are his thoughts from the road.
I need nature. I need to be in it. When I’m not, there is this low, buzzing dissatisfaction always present that people can see in my face. I had moved to Los Angeles to be closer to nature—surfing, camping, hiking in the desert—but, like many, I found myself spending too much time at work or in traffic to truly satisfy this constant craving. As I was figuring this out, I was working as an assistant in a vinyl graphics company. It was there that I first heard about 360º video; cutting edge technology that allows you to be fully immersed in the filmed environment. You watch these videos in a virtual reality headset and when you look up, you see sky and the sun rising to the east. if you turn around 180º, you’ll see the light hitting the far mountains, turning them pink and orange. If you look at the ground you see the stones under your feet. It is so immersive that when I put on a headset and watch videos shot in the wild, I feel that low, buzzing dissatisfaction fade away, just like as if I was really there.
Working in the vinyl shop alone I had a lot of time to think, and I came up with the idea of going on hikes in U.S. national parks and creating 360º videos, allowing those who couldn’t actually visit those places—not just frustrated urbanites like myself but also people with disabilities, the elderly, and people with young children—the opportunity to experience all the beauty and wonder that these places have to offer. The idea was born. I started grilling my friend Ian Forester, the co-founder of the creative studios VR Playhouse, and he was very generous in teaching me how to use the camera equipment and computer software one needs to create great 360º content. When he asked what I was planning to do with the knowledge. I told him about my idea and he replied, “Do you want to do it through VR Playhouse?” I jumped at the chance and so, in very VR Playhouse-fashion, he immediately gave me a camera rig and said, “Go out to Joshua Tree this weekend and try it out.” Out of the four shots I did that weekend, I screwed up three of them, but the one shot I got right, we stitched, color corrected, and added sound to, creating a fully immersive experience as my demo. Right then, I went home, wrote up an itinerary and a budget, and off I went.
So far I have shot Big Sur, The Redwoods, The Oregon Dunes, and Olympic National Park. Now, after a brief rest in Seattle, I’m off to shoot Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, The Badlands, and The Apostle Islands. From there, I may add Great Sand Dunes National Park, Arches, Bryce Canyon, Zion, Grand Canyon, and Yosemite to the itinerary. To follow my travels, follow me on Instagram @vrplayhouse.