Photoshop Elements >
Panoramas - Photographing
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.
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.
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.
