360-degree HD view of London from the top of the Shard looks incredible

This amazing 360-degree image was captured 310m above London at the top of the Shard skyscraper, on the night of the student protests in November 2010.

According to photographer Will Pearson:

Technically this was a very difficult shoot, I was on the crane at the top of the Shard, and I had to wave at Andy the crane driver so he knew when he could rotate 45 degrees between the exposures. The temperatures were well below freezing and if you look in the distance behind Canary Wharf you will see the snow on the hills. Technically this image is not perfect but I find it fascinating nonetheless.

On Will’s site you can zoom in and around the 360-degree view of the image, and also order prints of his work if you’d like.

The Shard building itself has come in for some stick but I think it’s a striking addition to London’s ever-developing skyline.

When completed in May 2012, it will be the tallest building in the European Union and the 46th-tallest building in the world, standing 310 m (1,017 ft) tall. (Says Wikipedia).