Thursday

Tips for Taking Panoramas

When taking pictures to be used in creating panoramas, you can blend as few as two side-by-side photos together, or you can cram more than 100 multi-angle shots into one mega-vista. Whatever your project, here are some guides and tips on how to capture the best pictures


Step 1. Use Consistent SettingsTry to change your "white balance" setting from the auto white-balance setting to a manual setting mode or to another setting that works. Better still, if you can set exposure to manual, meter it for the brightest or most average spot in the scene. Though this is not a requirement, it will your pictures to blend more evenly during the stitching process.

Step 2. Choose A Focal PointFind the feature or area you think would look good in the center of the final panorama. Then, with a steady aim (using a tripod is suggested), and at the same zoom level, shoot the remaining pictures. This will help you align your pictures later on.

Step 1. Shooting The PicturesIf you're going for a single, horizontal-only panorama, go left to right, in a steady row, with 20-30 percent of the picture overlapping the last one. If your going for a more vertical panorama, then do the same for each higher or lower row. If you're covering a wide area and shooting many more snaps, it's important to stay and pivot in one place and focus on keeping a 20-30% overlap. You'll also want to watch for inconsistencies like cars, pedestrians and other scenes that change. These procedures will help you keep your shots organized.
TIP: A tip I read once suggested that you place your finger in front of the lens on the first and last shot of a "group" of panoramic shots to help you identify the series later on when viewing them for editing.


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