ian408
01-06-2004, 01:05 AM
I like the effect a panoramic picture has. With film cameras,
these were hard to make. Digital cameras and software make
the process easy.
How do I make panoramas? Generally, you want to rotate the
camera lens around it's nodal point and take two or more shots
that are overlapped by about 20%. Download the images and
assemble them using software.
The nodal point a point at or very near the point where light
paths cross inside the lens. It's (very) roughly the center of the
lens.
Rotating around the nodal point helps keep objects near the
lens from appearing distorted relative to things farther away.
This is important if there's a fence at the front of the image.
Also, it's only necessary to be as accurate as you can in this
regard. That is unless you are shooting some architecture
shots--if you're doing this, you know more than I :)
By overlapping each image, you give the software enough
points to align the panorama. A word of caution. Too much
overlap and you may find it difficult to assemble the panorama.
Try to keep overlap around 20%.
Exposure's important too. It's best to maintain a consistent
exposure in each frame that makes up the panorama. This
makes the completed product more evenly exposed (though
some software will attempt exposure compensation).
Start with two or three images. If you have decent software
and lots of memory, you can assemble some pretty impressive
shots from multiple images.
Once the image is stitched together, I usually crop it. Maybe a
little adjustment, etc. Then save it as a jpeg.
Most people shoot horizontal panoramas. But that doesn't
mean you can't combine images horizontally and vertically.
The imporant thing is to get out there and try your hand
at making panoramas. It's fun!
I also know some of you have some very spectacular shots
you might want to share. Along with the tips for making better
images.
Here are a few I've taken on my travels.
http://ian408.smugmug.com/photos/1837326-M.jpg
http://ian408.smugmug.com/photos/1851354-M.jpg
http://ian408.smugmug.com/photos/1851543-M.jpg
http://ian408.smugmug.com/photos/897372-M-1.jpg
Ian
these were hard to make. Digital cameras and software make
the process easy.
How do I make panoramas? Generally, you want to rotate the
camera lens around it's nodal point and take two or more shots
that are overlapped by about 20%. Download the images and
assemble them using software.
The nodal point a point at or very near the point where light
paths cross inside the lens. It's (very) roughly the center of the
lens.
Rotating around the nodal point helps keep objects near the
lens from appearing distorted relative to things farther away.
This is important if there's a fence at the front of the image.
Also, it's only necessary to be as accurate as you can in this
regard. That is unless you are shooting some architecture
shots--if you're doing this, you know more than I :)
By overlapping each image, you give the software enough
points to align the panorama. A word of caution. Too much
overlap and you may find it difficult to assemble the panorama.
Try to keep overlap around 20%.
Exposure's important too. It's best to maintain a consistent
exposure in each frame that makes up the panorama. This
makes the completed product more evenly exposed (though
some software will attempt exposure compensation).
Start with two or three images. If you have decent software
and lots of memory, you can assemble some pretty impressive
shots from multiple images.
Once the image is stitched together, I usually crop it. Maybe a
little adjustment, etc. Then save it as a jpeg.
Most people shoot horizontal panoramas. But that doesn't
mean you can't combine images horizontally and vertically.
The imporant thing is to get out there and try your hand
at making panoramas. It's fun!
I also know some of you have some very spectacular shots
you might want to share. Along with the tips for making better
images.
Here are a few I've taken on my travels.
http://ian408.smugmug.com/photos/1837326-M.jpg
http://ian408.smugmug.com/photos/1851354-M.jpg
http://ian408.smugmug.com/photos/1851543-M.jpg
http://ian408.smugmug.com/photos/897372-M-1.jpg
Ian