Immersive storytelling and Virtual Reality

Immersive storytelling in 360 degrees

In creating some of the most recognized Virtual Reality documentaries and 360-videos to date, Martin Edström continues to lead the way of interactive and immersive storytelling.

Spearheading the field of immersive storytelling and journalism since 2012, when he created a first interactive 360-story from a refugee camp, Martin has inspired people and newsrooms around the world with his stories that place you in the middle of the narrative.

One of the views from the VR story about Son Doong, the largest cave in the world - a great showcase of immersive storytelling.
One of the views from the VR story about Son Doong, the largest cave in the world.

National Geographic VR projects

In telling the story about Son Doong, the largest cave in the world, Martin and his team helped shine a light on the need for conservation of natural heritage in South East Asia by using the power of immersive virtual reality. This was published by National Geographic in 2015, and later showcased as a prime example of interactive storytelling at Facebook F8 in 2018.

This story has been widely shared and praised, winning 1st prize at the International Photography Awards in 2015.

Read more about the Son Doong project here.

Martin Edström also led a National Geographic team in capturing the first ever 360-documentary filmed from the heart of a pride of wild lions - making it possible for people to meet a lion face to face in Virtual Reality.
Martin Edström also led a National Geographic team in capturing the first ever 360-documentary filmed from the heart of a pride of wild lions – making it possible for people to meet a lion face to face in Virtual Reality.

Breaking new ground for filmmaking

Further exploring what Virtual Reality and 360-degree filmmaking can add to storytelling, Martin and the team at IVAR Studios managed to film the first ever 360-documentary from the heart of a pride of wild lions for National Geographic.

Engineering everything from custom-built 360-cameras to an armored mobile camera platform, Martin and his team brought home footage that pushed the boundaries of immersive wildlife filmmaking.

Read more about the Lion 360 project here.

The Dragon's Blood Tree has drawn people to Socotra for millenia. This island in the middle of the Arabian Sea has been a trading post since the Greeks described the world - and has been touched by most civilizations since. Throughout ancient times the red resin - the Dragon's Blood - of these trees has been harvested and traded, and it still is today.
The Dragon’s Blood Tree has drawn people to Socotra for millenia. This island in the middle of the Arabian Sea has been a trading post since the Greeks described the world – and has been touched by most civilizations since. Throughout ancient times the red resin – the Dragon’s Blood – of these trees has been harvested and traded, and it still is today.

Martin continues to work with some of the largest media in the world, while focusing on conservation stories relating to natural and cultural heritage – recently involving a trip to the remote and isolated island of Socotra in Yemen together with fellow National Geographic Explorers.

Immersive Storytelling projects

Virtual reality and advanced formats

Expanding his use of new technology, incuding photogrammetry and 3D-scanning of remote environments and objects, Martin is also working on ways to use Augmented Reality for bringing stories like this into the homes and classrooms of the audience – often in collaboration with the immersive studio IVAR Studios.

The Uncharted Caves of Kyrgyzstan project explores using photogrammetry and 3D-modeling to help survey – and protect – a part of the Tian Shan mountains in Kyrgyzstan.

The most recent example of this type of advanced format work had Martin and his team spend over a month in the Tian Shan mountains of Kyrgyzstan, exploring new ways to use photogrammetry and 3D-modelling to benefit science and conservation of a previously unsurveyed area with a fragile future. Read more about the Uncharted Caves of Kyrgyzstan project here.

He also does select commercial projects in VR and 360-video together with the top tech companies of the world.