Creating Great PanoramasWriten by Peter Horner
Panoramas are photos that are much wider or taller than a normal photograph. Nature and landscapes, cityscapes and architecture, group portraits and events are all ideal panoramic photo opportunities. To do this, you need to have a selection of shots suitable for making a panorama. Read these quick tips for creating breathtaking panoramic photos.
1) Graphics editing software that lets you stitch photos together to create a panoramic photo will save you time and can create great results. You can use Adobe Photoshop Elements Photomerge tool to create a panorama.
2) Mark the point where the sequence of photos begins and ends. This is helpful to do especially if your camera does not have a mode for taking digital photos for panoramic images.
3) Use the wide-angle setting of your lens. Remember to use the same focal setting for each shot, as changing the setting by zooming in can ruin the effect, and try and shoot from the same position.
4) Use the same exposure for each shot. If you use the manual mode on your digital camera you can set the aperture and shutter speed ensuring it will maintain consistency between shots. Some cameras also have a panorama mode, which will lock these settings for you.
5) Focus your digital camera on the edge of the scene that you want to include in your panorama. This is the photo that will be the first photo that is used in your panorama.
6) Taking shots for panoramas becomes much easier if you use a tripod with a spirit level. The tripod keeps the shots straight and allows you to make more precise alignments rather than handholding the camera. Use a spirit level to help keep the camera angle consistent as you rotate it on the tripod.
7) Take between four and eight shots of your subject. Make sure each picture overlaps the next by 20% or more. This will allow the software to produce a soft transition between shots and it makes it easier for you to align the images. This technique will work well with cityscapes or landscapes.
8) Landscape format shots suffer more from wide-angle distortion and the software can chop off some of the top and bottom of the image. I have found it works best to take portrait format shots as this ensures there will be less distortion.
9) For professional results there is a special panorama head available for tripods. This allows you to take panoramas with greater accuracy.
10) Panoramas are impressive images, even when viewed on your computer screen. But panoramic prints are even more impressive. Consider using a professional online printing service to create stunning panoramic prints.
Peter Horner has years of experience in digital editing and printing technologies, as well as a passion for landscape photography. With this experience he co-created DesignerPrint, a large format printing company creating canvas prints, block mounts and poster prints. Learn more about Canvas Printing from DesignerPrint.