Free Republic

Bernardo Bellotto (1721-1780) was one of the most famous painters of what's called "veduta", a genre of painting that specializes in cityscapes. Probably using a "camera obscura", he was able to create highly accurate depictions of the various cities that he was active in, ranging from Rome in Italy, to Dresden in Germany, and Warsaw in Poland. His paintings provide us with a glimpse into 18th century Europe.

IRVINE, Calif. (AP) - Walk into the massive air hangar and the first thing you notice is an oppressive darkness broken only by a tiny beam of light from a gumball-size hole in the wall. Then, slowly, an upside-down image emerges on the opposite wall that is startling in its clarity - a dilapidated air traffic control tower, an overgrown runway and palm trees clustered amid rolling hills. Once home to roaring fighter jets, this decommissioned Marine Corps hangar is now the world's largest camera poised to take the world's largest picture. Associated Press An image similar to this of...