DUBAI // One of 10 prints of a panoramic image of Dubai, at one point the largest digital image in the world, is to be sold at a charity auction.
The 45-gigapixel print, which is 1.11 metres by 5.58m, was unveiled for the first time at last night's Geekfest event, held at The Shelter art space in Dubai.
Unable to find a frame big enough to hold the image, and unwilling to use any other materials to stick it up on a wall, organisers resorted to laying it out on the floor for all to see.
Finding someone to print the image, which was created using 4,250 separate photos, was also some trouble, said Gerald Donovan, the amateur photographer who created it.
The eye-popping image - which drew the attention of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, who mentioned it on both his Facebook and Twitter profiles - held the world record for several months after being created just over a year ago.
"But, in the space of one week, a few more came out that beat me," Mr Donovan said.
The photographer, who plans to shoot a 360-degree panorama of the city, has hopes that the money raised from the auction, which began directly after Geekfest but will move online in the coming days, will go towards the Palestine Children's Relief Fund, a non-profit and non-political organisation founded in 1991.
Details of the online auction are yet to be finalised, but it will end on May 5, to coincide with the Gala For Life event, being held at The Address hotel, Dubai Marina, in celebration of the relief fund's 20th anniversary.
