The Panoramic Thread

[Pea-n-Me]

I've never actually done this but would like to learn how.

So if you've got some panoramic photos, let's see em.

If you have some wisdom to share about how to do it, let's hear it.

If you just want to learn how like me, let's learn together and give it a whirl.

Here's an article to get us started:

Using a digital camera panoramic photography mode by: Ziv Haparnas

Panoramic digital photos cover a wide angle of view. In its extreme a panoramic photo can cover 360 degrees of view. Such panoramic photos are for example taken from a sky scraper to convey the view it provides. Most new digital cameras provide a panoramic mode that supports such photography.

There is no formal or definitive definition of what a panoramic photo is. It is common practice to define panoramic photos as such that cover a wide angle of view. How wide? A common definition is “wider than our eyes can see” – or in other worlds – provide an artificial view that otherwise we could not have gotten by just looking at the scene (without moving our head left and right or up and down of course). Panoramic digital photos can be taken in a single shot using special panoramic wide angle lenses. This technique is limited of course as for example a 360 degree panoramic photo can not be taken this way.

Another way in which panoramic photos are created is in segments – a few photos are taken in series and are later attached to each other to create one big panoramic photo. The process of attaching the photos together is fast and easy thanks to modern digital photo processing software (as long as you're following some guidelines when taking the photos). Panoramic photos are not limited to capturing landscape or wide angle view. They can be very useful when capturing objects that are just too big to be captured from where you stand. For example if you are standing too close to a tall tower and can not retreat to a farther position – using panoramic photography will enable you to capture the complete tower (in 2 or more shots).

Most digital cameras support a special panoramic mode. In this mode the camera optimizes its optical settings for panoramic wide angle photography. But more than just setting the optical parameters the camera also provides tools that allow you to more easily take the photos series and later on stitch them together. When put in panoramic mode the camera will first let you choose if you plan to take a horizontal panoramic photo (i.e. taking photos from left to right or right to left while keeping the vertical position fixed) or to take a vertical panoramic photo (i.e. taking the photos from bottom to top or top to bottom while keeping the horizontal position fixed). You can also choose a combination.

After you choose the panoramic mode – the camera will let you start taking the photos. On its LCD screen you would always see the previous photo you took and the new photo you are taking. This allows you to easily compose each photo in a way that it complements the previous one. You would also want to make sure the photo overlaps a bit with the previous photo – this allows for easier photo stitching later on. The camera also names the digital photos files in a special format that further helps stitching. Photo stitching can be easily done on a computer at home. Many digital cameras come with a photo stitching software. If your digital camera did not come with one you can find either free or low priced commercial software that can stitch single photos. Basically what the photo stitching software does is: based on the photo file names it orders the photos in their right order. Then it identifies the overlapping areas in each pair of photos and places the photos in a way that these overlapping areas match (this is why having a bit of overlap is important). The final step is to attach all those pairs of files and create a single panoramic digital photo.

It is a good practice to use a tripod when taking panoramic photos. A tripod will help you maintaining either a fixed horizontal or a fixed vertical position. Also it is good practice to keep the optical settings fixed between shots and to make sure that the lighting stays the same. As always practice makes perfect – go and experiment with panoramic photography and master your digital camera panoramic mode.

These were neat, too.

http://www.hp.com/united-states/consumer/digital_photography/tours/panorama_stitching/index_fl.html

 

[rtphokie]

I've played with a lot of different software packages but I keep going back to PhotoStitch that ships with Canon cameras.

In camera stitching doesn't appeal to me at all. It's too easy to do it once you've loaded the files on your PC. Automatic tools provide good results but having the ability to tweak the settings makes all the difference. I rarely use a tripod when taking panoramas because I know I can go in and fix the problems if I need to. Much easier that way.

Some samples, all taken with a Canon G3, stitched with Photostitch, significantly reduced (they are huge images):

Kids club on the Disney Cruise Line

Nassau from the stern of the Disney Wonder

Rotunda of the capitol, Washington, DC

Grand Floridian pool

Grand Floridian lobby

 

[orchjoe]

A while ago a buddy and mine that work as web developers at Minnesota State University, Mankato really got into taking panoramic shots.....

http://www.mnsu.edu/univops/panoramic/

We only just around the school though.

 

[bostran1]

I've done tons of panoramics over the years. The only one I have up on the web is the one below though. I'll try to get some more up. The secret I have found is to make sure the camera stays on the same level and, if you're using software to stitch the photos together, make sure you have some big landmark in the photos that will appear next to each other so it can get stitched properly.

Here are a few I use for my website, www.benostrander.com:

This one is from the coast of County Donegal in Ireland taken when I lived over there:

This is me in the Collesuem:

And this is another one of Fenway:

 

[Jeanne B]

We'll be at the Grand Canyon in just a few weeks and I would love to get a panoramic shot with my K100 or my S3 but I've never experimented with panoramics before.

 

[diznylnd]

This is Disneyland when they were setting up for the Pirates prem. Taken with my Canon S2.

 

[DueyDooDah]

I used to have one that was a 360, but it was taken through a periscope, which made it classified and the navy wouldn't let me keep a copy. It was really nice. Wish I could share. I guess I'd better get out there with the tripod and get started.

 

[MOmousefan]

It did this one of PoP Century resort without the benefit of a tripod.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

These are great, guys.

I've played with a lot of different software packages but I keep going back to PhotoStitch that ships with Canon cameras.

In camera stitching doesn't appeal to me at all. It's too easy to do it once you've loaded the files on your PC. Automatic tools provide good results but having the ability to tweak the settings makes all the difference. I rarely use a tripod when taking panoramas because I know I can go in and fix the problems if I need to. Much easier that way.

Interesting. I was hoping to learn how to use my in-camera stitching (S3). I don't always find software programs easy to use.

 

[AndrewWG]

Pea-n-Me,

I have always had great luck with the Canon software as well. You have to make sure that your photos have some nicely overlapped areas in them though so that the software knows where to stitch them properly. A tripod is very helpful as if the horizontal top and bottom of the photos isn't at an identical spot, the final picture will be very choppy along the top and bottom and will need to be cropped to view it decently. Here is one I took in Sarasota, FL a few years ago with my Canon A85. It looks great full size, but since I had to crop it so much on the top and bottom, it looks small when it is viewed screen size.

Andy

 

[MarkBarbieri]

Panos are one area where P&S cameras have an advante over DSLRs. They have fewer parallax problems.

When you take your pictures, it is best to have them taken from the exact same spot. The thing that needs to be in the same spot is not your camera's sensor; it's the nodal point of your lens. That's the exact spot inside your lens where all of the light beams cross as they are focused onto your sensor. If you don't rotate around this point, objects in the foreground will shift relative to objects in the background.

To see what I'm taking about, cover your left eye and look at the relative position of something near you and something farther away. Now keep your head in the exact same place and cover your right eye instead of your left eye. You'll notice that the foreground object has shifted relative to the background object. That's because your eyes are in different places.

So why is a P&S better than a DSLR for this? For the simple reason that the nodal point of the lens is much closer to the sensor and the tripod mount. That makes it easier to just stick the camera on a tripod and rotate it. Because the nodal point will move less, you'll have fewer parallax problems.

The problem with parallax decreases over distance. If you are using a DSLR and want to do panoramas on your tripod, you'll probably be fine if you don't have anything close to you in the picture.

If you really want to shoot precise panoramas, there are special tripod heads that allow you to adjust the position of the camera so that the nodal point is exactly over the tripod head. That way, when you rotate the tripod head, it rotates the camera around the nodal point.

To summarize: The smaller the camera, the easier it is to get a good panorama; without special equipment panoramas work best when nothing is close to the camera; special equipment helps make perfect panoramas with any camera.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Good information, thank you.

 

[tinksdad]

Pano's are a lot of fun. Another tip is to make sure you overlap enought to allow the software to match each shot up with the next one. I've been using Autostitch for decent results and it's freeware!

Chicago Skyline

Beach Club/Boardwalk lagoon

 

[Amy]

Will you guys please STOP!! Now you've given me something else I've got to try out with my S3. I've never had a need/desire to try a panorama shot, but after seeing yours, I want to do it too!

 

[Furgus]

How aboout these Pano's
http://www.docbert.org/ChicagoByNight/

 

[cpbjgc]

The first was done using Canon Photostich and my old S1 IS with a monopod. I think it was 6 shots stiched together.

This next one is is from cropping a wideangle landscape shot.

 

[diznylnd]

The first was done using Canon Photostich and my old S1 IS with a monopod. I think it was 6 shots stiched together.

Love the pic of Castaway Cay. I should have done a stitch pic there too! It's so easy to forget you have that feature on the camera!!

 

[Amy]

Ok, you guys made me do it. Here, totally untouched (except for the photo stitching software that came with my Canon S3 IS) is my very first ever panoramic shot - my back yard:

It was almost too easy. I just read the instructions 10 min. ago and viola!

Edited to add: I was so happy with how it turned out, I forgot to give you details. Shot on P mode, totally handheld. One suggestion I'll try for my next panorama: it said for a horizontal panorama (going left to right) to hold the camera vertically - that way you'll get a taller picture as an end result. Storms moving in so I can't try again right now. Bright sunshine, but now thunder and really dark clouds.

 

[Dznefreek]

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I must have missed these last couple. Nice job, and thanks for posting!!