Shooting Panoramas MADE SIMPLE

By uncle Stan, 2009

INTR

O

For D

UMM

IES

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Contents

What is a panorama Where it can help you Myths about panoramic shooting Keeping it simple:

hardware & software References

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What is a panorama? Definition:

– a panorama (from Greek <πανοραμα>) is any wide-angle view of a physical space

– wide-angle representation of such a view—whether in painting, drawing, photography, film/video, etc.

– composition of overlapping images using various projection types

Used in:– Art, Space missions, Maps– Google Streetview, virtual tours– Realty websites, educational media – interiors

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A picture is worth a thousand words

You don’t take a photograph, you make it. Ansel Adams

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What’s in it for you?

Fun and new impressions Save wide shots even with narrow

lense Shoot scenery and interiors when

needed Print and share online

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Myths about panoramas

Special cameras / lenses (e.g. fisheye, or even 360°)

Special hardware / mounts Scientific software Deep knowledge of maths and spatial

geometry

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Keeping simple: hardware

Camera– just any: DSLR, compact, even mobile

Computer– Any modern laptop or desktop will do

Scenery / Objects– keep cam in one point & rotate around it– composition rules apply– overlap shots by 30-50%

Tripod – buy if: you wanna shoot real big OR your

hands are shaky OR shoot in low light/night

Panoramic head – buy if you plan to shoot professionally

NICE TO HAVE

MUST HAVE’s

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Keeping simple: softwareModern panoramic software is very smart: Autodetection of image groups Seamless stitching & smart blending (even

moving objects) Shooting errors correction (exp., color…) Using various projections (planar, spheric,

cylinder…) Quality output (jpg, tiff)

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Keeping simple: software

Functionality, more features

Ease

to u

se,

easi

er

Canon PhotoStitch

Autopano PT GuiHugin

Panorama FactoryRealviz Stitcher

Output quality (1..3)

RECOMMENDED!

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Never stop!

Experiment:– Small planets, 360°– Night panoramas, HDR– Virtual tours, video…

Share:– Any photohost – picasa,

flickr, photofile– Specialized: Panoramio, http://pan0.net, viewAt– LJ Community - photopanorama

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THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!

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References1. Title: Sony HX1, by SONY Corp.2. Slide 3: Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panorama3. Slide 4 images

• Mars image by Spirit Rover, - JPL, http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA01907

• Borodino battle panorama, http://dic.academic.ru/dic.nsf/ruwiki/23034

• Golden Gate by hernan.badino, http://www.panoramio.com/photo/8358091

4. Slide 6• Math comic by Wulffmorgenthaler,

http://www.wulffmorgenthaler.com• Gigapan Epic Imager, http://gigapan.org/

5. Slide 8: Autopano illustration from http://blog.nikonpassion.com