The panorama was shot by Dubuque artist Tim Olson and photographer Tony Moline on May 18th and 19th, 2013 in Dubuque’s Washington Park.

The photographers used a 1930s era studio camera modified by metal worker Jim Avery so that it could be wheeled through the park. At 10 foot intervals, the photographers stopped and exposed a single sheet of black and white 5”x7” film. Over the course of the festival they photographed over 600 people on 220 sheets of film. Moline helped keep track of the subjects and gathered signatures which have been incorporated into the final print. He also used a digital camera to take in-between and background shots.

After the festival, Olson processed the film and digitally stitched the single photographs together to create the seamless panorama. The final print is 12.5 inches high by 110 feet in length and has the look of black and white panoramic photographs from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

The print will be on view for the first time at the Center for Dubuque History at Loras College from March 15th through April 25th 2014. A special reception will take place Sunday, April 6th.

The project was funded by a grant from the Iowa Arts Council.

Below is the entire panorama divided into nine sections. To view: click an image, enlarge to 100%, & use your browser or arrows to scroll. Chronologically, the panorama starts at the upper right, moving left and down over the two festival days.