Multiple Exposure and Extending the Frame Chapter Six Multiple Exposure and Extending the Frame

Photographing Panoramas Multiple, side-by-side or overlapping views of the same scene.

Panorama: Horizontal/Vertical Cover the whole scene with horizontal or vertical shots Vertical shots results in more pixels in the final panorama Vertical shots cover more height

Panorama: Image overlap How much? Minimum 20-25% Conservative 30-50% Wide-angle lenses (more distortion) need more overlap 40-50%

Panorama: Exposure Brightness levels may vary from one side to the other in the scene, e.g. sky. Software may help to adjust/smooth out the differences.

Panorama: Tips Keep aperture consistent Use same exposure for all shots Use same white balance for all shots (not AWB) Overlap shots 20-50% Use consistent focal length Keep camera level Test the software with exposure differences Keep it interesting, experiment

360 Degree Panorama Used in Google Earth/Street View

360 Panorama

Activity: 360 Panorama Install Google Cardboard Camera on your iPhone or Android phone.

Dynamic Range The ability of a sensor device to capture the full tonal detail of an image from highlights to shadows.

High Dynamic Range (HDR) Overcome the dynamic range limits of image sensors Take multiple exposures of the same picture Combine them into a single picture Useful for pictures with big contrast in the scene (e.g. wedding pictures) Each exposure covers a different range of tones (brightness) in the scene.

When to Shoot HDR High contrast outdoor scenes on bright, sunny days Sunsets Twilight Interior locations that combine darker areas with artificial illumination Views through windows to brightly lit exteriors Suitable for landscapes, citycapes, architectures, nature, travel, still lifes (portraits) Not suitable for pictures with moving objects

How to Shoot HDR For longer exposure times (over ½ seconds), use a tripod Use Auto Exposure Bracketing (AEB) if available On smartphones, turn on HDR

HDR: Exposure considerations Take a series of shots: 3-7 Number depends on lighting conditions and how much detail in the deepest shadows is needed. Shoot in RAW

HDR: Aperture settings Same aperture for all shots in series—consistent depth of field (avoid alignment issues)

HDR: Shutter speed settings Shutter speed is adjusted shot by shot to get different amounts of exposure. Watch out for slow shutter speeds. Vibration reduction (anti-shaking) lenses help. Use a tripod if necessary.

HDR: Exposure range/steps Each shot in sequence differs by 1 to 2 stops, ie. double the shutter time on each shot, e.g.

HDR: Auto Exposure Bracketing Built-in camera function in DSLR Available in Aperture priority (A) mode Take multiple shots continuously with same aperture but different shutter times.