Frank Hada and Jackie Boyd Fox Valley Camera Club March 13, 2007

Why Take Panoramas? Aesthetics –Some views lend themselves to wide or tall format Wider angle of view possible –Don’t need specialty lenses –Can’t get farther away –Generally distortion is lower Higher resolution photographs

Finding and Assessing a Scene Think horizontally, vertically or large vistas –Linking even two photos can be very effective Macro panoramas Take advantage of the strengths of a panorama. –Already cropped to enhance the photograph Still need good photographic technique. –Need to have items of interest –Bookend feature –“Rule” of thirds gives pleasing results Assess range of exposure needed

Finding and Assessing a Scene Vertical Horizontal Vista

Finding and Assessing a Scene Most panorama photographs are taken from a fixed location –Rotate to take the photo Can also translate to take a photo –Watch out for items with perspective. –Great for walls or other 2-D objects.

Finding and Assessing a Scene Bookend

How to Take Photographs Photos that are in-line are easiest to assemble –Get maximum area with in-line photographs Use a level or find a line of reference –Tripod is good to use. Level tripod legs. Use a panorama head. –Flash mount level is useful –Find a reference line like a horizon Try to be the same distance from major objects Use reasonable wide angle to avoid distortion Recognize oblique angles and take extra overlapping pictures Shoot from left to right Leave about 20% overlap –Can crop afterwards if necessary

How to Take Photographs Missing Spot More Usable Area Less Usable Area

How to Take Photographs Goal is to get uniform lighting for all shots. Difficult exposures –Sunset/sunrise –Need to expose carefully to get bright and dark areas so bracket sets Don’t use polarizing filter –Polarizing filter affect based on angle to the sun Use manual exposure and manual settings –Make sure to use manual white balance and contrast –Check the histogram for each picture to make sure your exposure is in range Ensure adequate depth of field to have all items in focus

How to Assemble Panoramas Any photos can be used. –Some cameras have “panorama” mode Canon PhotoStitch software –Works well, but limited in photo size Adobe Photoshop Photomerge –Generally poor results –No adjustment of brightness Adobe Photoshop manual method –The most reliable and easiest to control –More difficult to do, but great control of image

Assembling Panoramas – Photoshop Technique Start with an image of intermediate brightness. This is the background layer Save the photo with your panorama name Increase the canvas size Then for each photo… –Add a layer and copy the next photo in the series to this layer –Adjust angle and position with the move tool –Adjust brightness Save final Photoshop format Flatten image and save in JPG format Correct angle and brightness of final photograph and crop

Final Thoughts Printing your panoramas Mounting Source of Photographs –Don’t need new photographs just digital format –Can be digital photos, or scans of slides or negatives