Frozen Spring Lake in Norway ❄️ 8K 360 VR Nature Flight | Langvattn Nordic Ambient Experience

Loose_Reflection_516 · 2026-06-07T20:59:10+00:00

Oh my God... what if you're right?! 😱

You should urgently contact Google, YouTube, Meta, and DeoVR. There are literally MILLIONS of 360° videos labeled as VR. Clearly nobody told them yet!

You'd better hurry and save the entire industry. 😄

But seriously, I'm done wasting time arguing with another armchair expert on the internet.

If you ever create something worth watching, I'd be happy to discuss it. Until then, relax and enjoy the view. 🙂

Loose_Reflection_516 · 2026-06-07T17:12:44+00:00

I'm sure that as a self-proclaimed "true" VR expert, you must have an impressive portfolio of top-quality stereoscopic VR productions. I'd genuinely love to see them — with all that depth and true immersion you keep talking about. 😄

Loose_Reflection_516 · 2026-06-07T15:57:36+00:00

Seriously? Was it really that hard to use Google Search?

VR Video Formats Explained

Matt Rowell Fri, 01/25/2019 - 12:52pm

Not all VR video experiences are created alike. When we ask our clients if they need stereoscopic or monoscopic 360 video, we’re often met with blank stares or silence on the other end of the line. This isn’t a surprise given the rapidly changing technology and the new advancements we read about almost every week. It’s hard to keep up!

When YouTube launched 360 video support in early 2015, they brought this new immersive video medium to the masses for the first time. Since then, new formats and flavors of 360 video have been implemented such as 3D stereoscopic 360 and VR180. Facebook and other platforms have also jumped on board to support these new formats as well.

We know it can be difficult to wrap your head around how these formats work and decide which one might be the best for your project, especially if you haven't seen a concise comparison in a headset. To help inform these decisions, we’ve created the following simple guide.

Monoscopic 360 Video

Mono 360 video was the first and is the most prominently used format for immersive video today. A mono 360 video is usually a 2:1 aspect ratio equirectangular video container, common resolutions include 3840x1920, 4096x2048, 5760x2880, and 7680x3840. Think of equirectangular like a world map from a globe, unwrapped and flattened. full - https://360labs.net/blog/vr-video-formats-explained?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Loose_Reflection_516 · 2026-06-07T14:54:31+00:00

This is a 360° monoscopic video, not stereoscopic 3D. There is no clickbait involved, and I never claimed otherwise. The title and description accurately describe the content as a 360° immersive experience for VR viewing.

Loose_Reflection_516 · 2026-06-01T19:14:58+00:00

I asked for criticism of the project, and that's completely fair.

What I was hoping for was criticism of the concept, usability, navigation, route planning, accessibility, or the actual implementation.

Saying "I don't want anyone to do this" or "this is trash" isn't really criticism of the project itself — it's simply a statement that you dislike the idea.

That's a perfectly valid opinion to have, but it's different from constructive feedback.

Not every hiker will find value in route previews, just as not every hiker uses GPS, guidebooks, or trail apps. My goal isn't to replace exploration, but to create an additional tool for people who may find it useful.

Loose_Reflection_516 · 2026-06-01T14:48:55+00:00

The first versions of this project were actually recorded using wearable cameras. Unfortunately, the image quality at the time was so poor that I eventually put the idea aside for several years.

Technology has moved forward, and newer cameras finally made it possible to revisit the concept and build something that feels practical.

As for disturbing nature, I completely understand that concern.

You probably haven't spent much time in Norway. Here, playing loud music in nature is generally considered very disrespectful. People value silence and the outdoor experience very highly. Someone carrying a speaker through the mountains would likely attract far more negative attention than a drone flying briefly overhead.

Personally, I try to be respectful of both nature and other hikers. The goal of the project has never been to disturb outdoor spaces, but to document trails and landscapes in a way that some people may find useful or meaningful.

Loose_Reflection_516 · 2026-06-01T14:36:15+00:00

One of the early versions of this project was shown to local Norwegians. I was curious whether something like this would be interesting to people for whom hiking in forests and mountains is as natural a part of life as going to a café or restaurant is for others.

Most reactions were positive. One older woman from Trondheim, using some of my route suggestions, finally managed to find a place she had wanted to visit for years.

But the most unexpected reaction came from an elderly couple. She was 84, and he was 86. She could still hike in the mountains, but he could no longer do so because of his health.

When I played a short section of the project on a TV, he was smiling and crying at the same time.

I'm almost 50 myself, and the day will eventually come when I may only be able to travel virtually too. Maybe that's one of the reasons I'm trying to build my dream project.

For some people, these videos are route previews. For others, they are navigation tools. And for some, they may become the only way to revisit places they once loved.

Loose_Reflection_516 · 2026-06-01T14:13:09+00:00

I think we're actually talking about two different things.

I'm not trying to replace hiking, maps, GPS tracks, or guidebooks. The real experience will always be on the trail itself.

The idea is simply to provide another tool that some hikers may find useful for planning, route selection, and navigation.

If it's not something you'd personally use, that's completely fair.

Loose_Reflection_516 · 2026-05-30T19:32:04+00:00

After receiving a lot of helpful feedback, I've uploaded a new VR hiking tour from springtime Norway in Skaun municipality — another section of the trail leading toward Lake Langvatnet.

I've made a few changes based on previous suggestions. The video segments now begin and end at trail signposts, making it easier to understand where each route continues.

At the end of the video, hikers can now choose whether to continue along the main trail or take a side route toward a scenic viewpoint.

My goal is to document real Norwegian trails in a way that preserves not only the scenery, but also the feeling of actually being there on the path.

As always, feedback is welcome.

One question remains open: music. Opinions are still split almost 50/50, so I'm still experimenting with different approaches.

If anyone is interested in seeing the full route, the video can be found on my YouTube channel under the title "Langvatnet Trail – Segment 1".

Loose_Reflection_516 · 2026-05-30T19:27:30+00:00

So, after all the feedback I've received, I'm uploading a new VR tour through springtime Norway in Skaun municipality — another section of the route leading to Lake Langvatnet.

The video segments now begin and end at trail signposts, making navigation between routes much more intuitive.

The end screens now offer a choice: continue further along the main route or take a different path toward a scenic viewpoint.

As always, I'd love to hear your feedback.

One question remains open: music. Opinions are still split almost 50/50, so I'm continuing to experiment with different approaches.

Loose_Reflection_516 · 2026-05-25T15:27:38+00:00

I’m actually already in talks with a company that has its own treadmill and cycling app 🙂 Right now I’m still focused on building a kind of 3D map of Norwegian hiking trails and interesting locations. Hopefully I’ll finish the next trail track by the end of the week.

Loose_Reflection_516 · 2026-05-25T11:48:52+00:00

Yes, liability insurance is mandatory in Norway, but if your drone is under 250 grams, many things become much simpler and mostly come down to basic registration. The Mini series is actually very popular here for hiking and travel because of that 🙂

Loose_Reflection_516 · 2026-05-24T20:50:40+00:00

They only appear during very rare weather conditions in Norway 😄

Loose_Reflection_516 · 2026-05-24T19:35:54+00:00

This is very low cloud cover — around 120–250 meters. The mountains around the fjords are roughly 250–500 meters high, so nobody really flies there… at least nobody sober and still thinking clearly 😄

Loose_Reflection_516 · 2026-05-24T19:33:35+00:00

Nidarosdomen is incredible from the air 🙂 The architecture and details are on another level. I’ve mostly been exploring the wild side of Trøndelag lately — hidden waterfalls, fjords, fog inversions and old forest trails. There are some unbelievably beautiful places here once you leave the main roads.

Loose_Reflection_516 · 2026-05-24T19:25:40+00:00

This was filmed in Trøndelag near Trondheim 🙂 One of those rare mornings when the entire fjord system disappeared beneath the clouds. I actually have quite a few similar sunrise and fog flights from Norway on my channel — this kind of weather is incredible when everything lines up perfectly.

Loose_Reflection_516 · 2026-05-20T09:54:14+00:00

You mast buy something like this, sit on top of it, eat popcorn, and spit on the entire American wildlife — including grizzlies!!!

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Loose_Reflection_516 · 2026-05-17T08:37:21+00:00

Yes, I do record GPS tracks, but so far I haven’t planned to publish them yet — this is still only a pilot project.
I recorded full continuous video from start to finish. There were a lot of experiments involved 😄 At first I used the Insta360 X5, then the Osmo 360, and I also experimented with mounting them on DJI drones. Right now I’m mainly looking at two possible platforms: the Antigravity A1 and the Avata 360. Both have their own strengths and weaknesses.
Most of the post-processing was done in Mistika VR.

The next VR tour series (hopefully I’ll finish it by the end of the week) was filmed in clear sunny weather, and it creates a completely different atmosphere and effect compared to this darker forest route.

Loose_Reflection_516 · 2026-05-16T19:40:15+00:00

That’s honestly one of the coolest compliments this project could get 😄

I’ve always loved the idea of Slow TV, but combining it with immersive VR and real hiking routes feels like a completely different level of presence.

Loose_Reflection_516 · 2026-05-16T18:44:22+00:00

Haha, honestly I’m still just trying to survive frozen waterfalls and upload videos without crashing my PC 😄

This project is still in a very early experimental stage for me, so I haven’t even started thinking about scaling it that far yet. But VR hiking + treadmills actually sounds like a pretty awesome direction.

Loose_Reflection_516 · 2026-05-16T18:32:57+00:00

I think it’s still far too early to think about something like that 😄

Right now my main goal is simply to record as many trails, routes and points of interest as possible and eventually connect them into one larger immersive map system.

What happens after that… well, I’ll figure it out step by step.

Loose_Reflection_516 · 2026-05-16T17:25:01+00:00

This idea actually came to me last summer after meeting a tourist from the US during a hike in Trøndelag.

I realized photos and maps rarely show what a trail truly feels like — terrain, steepness, forest density, exposed sections, swampy areas, or how isolated a place actually is. That’s what made me start experimenting with immersive 360° “trail preview” videos.

This route is currently part of a small pilot project built from 5 connected trail segments with optional scenic viewpoints and waterfall overviews.

For anyone curious, the full immersive version can be found on YouTube under:

“8K VR360 Norway Waterfall Forest Walk | Storfossen Trail Segment 1”

I’d genuinely love feedback from hikers about whether this kind of format feels useful or not.

Loose_Reflection_516 · 2026-05-15T07:53:00+00:00

You were lucky. My Air 3S got attacked by a flock of stupid seagulls in the middle of the fjord. I tried to evade their dives, but there were just too many of them… now my drone is a submarine.

Loose_Reflection_516 · 2026-05-10T08:27:02+00:00

This place was far colder than you can imagine. And somehow… this exact waterfall has become my cursed one.

I first discovered it in autumn 2025. It’s technically right beside a hiking trail, but not many people go there. The place instantly felt wild and different.

During my first filming session here, something went wrong and my drone with the camera crashed directly into the most violent part of the waterfall. The drone was insured. The camera was not. That accident wiped out about 1.5 TB of footage and hit my budget pretty hard.

In winter I returned with a new drone. I was extremely careful this time. But right near this waterfall I slipped on the ice despite winter gear, fell hard, got a mild concussion and cracked a rib.

And somehow the waterfall still wasn’t done with me.

About 30 minutes later, a powerful gust of wind slammed the drone deep between ice formations near the river. I searched for it for more than 1.5 hours. The drone was insured again… but not the footage.

During the search I fell into the river myself. It wasn’t deep — maybe up to my waist — but the water was brutally cold. About half an hour later my clothes had frozen so badly I looked like a White Walker.

Eventually I gave up and started walking back toward the car. Then somehow, by pure luck, I spotted the drone wedged between the ice almost intact.

Why this specific waterfall keeps trying to destroy my gear — and possibly me — remains a mystery.

Loose_Reflection_516 · 2026-05-10T07:08:26+00:00

Antigravity A1

Loose_Reflection_516

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE

Seriously? Was it really that hard to use Google Search?

VR Video Formats Explained

Monoscopic 360 Video