Most programs that this very important first step in 3d modeling - creating a point cloud - want or expect the images to have been taken pretty much at the same time, and often with the same camera. While researching the current availability of software, I came across VisualSFM, which seemed to be exactly what I was looking for, as it claimed it could create a point cloud from non-sequential images.
For such a famous landmark, I’m surprised there’s no 3d models of it to speak of. After a few false starts (most notably the Statue of Liberty), I lucked onto Mount Rushmore. When I saw the See the World contest, I knew I wanted to respond to the challenge by using existing software to try and create a 3d object of a well known sculpture, building or landmark.
It allowed you to input a photograph and then with a fairly straightforward interface, allowed you to bend and rotate the image in 3d. In the current context its functionality was pretty limited, but at the time it blew me away. About 15 years ago, a company called MetaCreations Corp released a product called Canoma.
