Traill's Crest Loft

Capturing movement, like banners and flags, for purposes of shooting spherical panoramas is challenging. The Greek flag is one of my very favorite flags of Europe. It displays just wonderfully from poles of all kinds; including here in the United States of America, where one can observe it every so often. The flag displays a series of horizontal bands, each of the same size. The bands display the colors blue and white and do so in an alternating manner. The canton of the flag shows a white cross on a blue background.

Interestingly, and according to the country's cultural tradition(s), the 9 stripes are said to officially symbolize the 9 syllables of the phrase "Freedom or Death" in the Greek language. Others claim that the 9 stripes or bands also represent or symbolize all the letters of the word "freedom." The flag really flies nicely from objects of all kinds, including commercial flag poles.

Greece has been one of people's favorite vacation destinations in the world. It is located in Southern Europe and borders Turkey to the east and the country of Bulgaria to the north. Interestingly, Greece includes an incredible amount of wonderful islands, some fourteen-hundred of them of which more than 200 are populated. These islands include the better known Crete and the Ionian Islands, which would make a great travel destination if interesting in shooting spherical panoramas.

Back in 1978 the sea variant of the Greek flag was adopted as the only national flag, with a two to three type ratio. Interestingly, the flag is used on both land as well as the open sea, and is also the official war and civil ensign, replacing all other flag-designs that were used until that time. No other designs and badges of any kind can be displayed on the national flag.

Not much information is in existence about the exact reasoning why it was adopted officially in 1822. Some historians have even said that the current design of the flag as shown and flown from small and tall flag poles is based on a Greek flag that was flown before the current one. As with most flag-controversies, and because of a lack of historical information, facts are hard to prove.

Greece is one of many countries that offers an incredible cultural experience. I am looking forward to that day when I will stand among well-known ruins and other famous Greek objects, capturing a three-hundred and sixty degree panorama.