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Panoramas - Photographing

Photographing Stitching More Resources

You can easily create a panoramic photograph from several photographs.

First, we'll look at what you have to do when you're making the photographs.

Then, we'll stitch them together with Photoshop Elements.

Lastly, there's a list of more resources.

Making the Photographs

Little Movement

Movement is okay in the center of the frame, but not elsewhere.

If there are waves breaking on a beach, clouds scudding by, people walking everywhere, and so forth, a panorama may not be possible.

Even Lighting

Avoid photographing when the brightness is changing rapidly, as when the sun is covered and uncovered by clouds.

And, avoid scenes with both bright and dark areas.

Panorama Mode

Does your camera have a panorama mode?

If not, skip ahead.

If yes, read on.

Panorama mode may have these three features.

• The panorama mode may display a portion of the last photograph, so you can overlap the next photograph correctly.

• The camera may use the same exposure, ISO, white balance, and focus, for every photograph.

By doing so, the resulting panorama will have a consistent tone and color from left to right.

• You may be able to select the direction of the sequence of the photographs, left, right, up, or down.

Now, skip ahead.

Manually Set 4 Controls

If your camera doesn't have panorama mode, simply set he following four controls.

Control #1- Exposure

First, measure the light using program mode.

Set the exposure mode dial to P, and press the shutter release slightly to turn on the light meter.

Point the camera at the scene, and note the lens opening and shutter speed values.

Then, switch to manual mode, M, on the exposure mode dial.

Set the lens opening and shutter speed to the values obtained using program mode.

On DSLR cameras with two knobs, one will set the lens opening, and the other know, the shutter speed.

On a DSLR camera with one knob, the knob will set the shutter speed.

To set the lens opening, look for a button with an aperture icon.

Press and hold and the button, and turn the knob.

Control #2- White Balance

Set the white balance to a setting appropriate to the scene.

If automatic white balance is used, the color may vary from one photograph to the next.

Control #3- ISO

Set the ISO to a setting appropriate to the scene.

If Auto ISO is used, the exposure may vary from one photograph to the next.

Control #4 - Focus

Set your lens to manual focus, if possible.

Focal Length

To prevent distortion, avoid using wide focal lengths.

Polarizing Filter

Don't use a Polarizing filter.

Light is unevenly polarized in the sky.

If you were to use a Polarizing filter, the color of the sky may vary unnaturally.

Hand Held or Tripod

Hand Held

It's not necessary to use a tripod when making a panorama from several photographs.

Just be sure to hold the camera:

• Perpendicular to the ground.

• Level to the horizon.

Your camera must "fly" straight and level.

If your camera can display a grid, it will help you to hold the camera properly.

Tripod

If you're stitching together many photographs, use a tripod.

A bubble level will help you to set up the tripod properly.

Rotation Axis

If you're hand-holding your camera, rotate the camera as if it's on a tripod.

That is, the camera rotates over the same spot on the ground.

Imagine that a plumb bob is hanging from your camera.

A plumb bob is used to confirm that an object is vertical (90°).

The plumb bob string hangs from the bottom of your camera.

The weight at the end of the string is positioned over, let's say, a dandelion in the lawn.

As you rotate the camera lens for each shot, keep the plumb bob over the dandelion.

If objects in the scene are not close, there's less need for accurate rotation of the camera lens.

Why Is the Rotation Axis Important?

Close one eye, and then, the other.

The perspective changes.

The perspective also changes dramatically when the camera lens moves.

The optimal way to rotate the camera lens is on a tripod with a special panorama head.

The rotation axis is the entrance pupil of the lens at a particular focal length.

When the lens rotates on this axis, close and distant objects keep their positions relative to each other.

Framing

Space for Cropping

Leave some space at the top and bottom of the frame.

This will allow you to crop uneven edges and errors easily.

Consider holding your camera the wrong way.

Let's say you're photographing a horizontal subject, the Grand Canyon.

Hold the camera vertically, as if your doing a portrait.

Let's say you're photographing a spiral stair case, a vertical subject.

Hold the camera horizontally, as if you're photographing a landscape.

By holding your camera the wrong way, there's more area that can be cropped later, due to distortion or errors.

Overlap the Photographs

Most importantly, overlap the photographs by about 25% or so.

By doing so, Photoshop Elements can stitch the photographs together more realistically.

Now, you're ready to stitch your photographs together.

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