HDR Panoramic Photography

I have been advocating and using HDR for certain photographic uses for a while now, the response has been rather positive, I can only assume that I must be doing something right. In the past month I have attempted to tackle a whole new aspect of HDR, pushing the envelop if you will, I started doing “large” daylight panoramic images. I am amazed by both the  results and response. I have learned so much more about HDR and normal photography in good lighting conditions (often not suitable for HDRs) and how to do good panoramic images.

So what is the trick?

1. Take each section as wide as possible, all my panoramic images are done at 16mm, it will be more forgiving on your movement up and down.
2. Overlap each section by at least 30%, 50% will give you double the information to stich.
3. Keep the same focus, aperture, speed and ISO for each section, do not be afraid to go manual, in fact I encourage it.
4. Tripods help, the truth is I do not use them much because I find them restrictive, say what you will it’s cumbersome to carry around.
5. Before you do a panoramic, pan your camera, look where you begin and where you are going to end, find your panoramic line if you will, it’s like framing only wider. When doing the initial panning watch out for:
1. The sun and flares.
2. Water reflections.
3. Moving people, animals and objects as they may appear more than once in your panoramic image.
4. Camera tilting, try to stay on the same horizontal axis but keep that camera at 90 degrees.
5. As so many say, look up, look down look everywhere, pan it twice or more before you start.
6. When you do the panoramic sections do 30% more on either sides, it will let you crop better.
7. Understand the fisheye effect and how to use it or avoid it, a panoramic image has lens curvature and that is that.
8. 180 degrees panoramic images taken on a road or any visible straight live will result in a perceived 90 degrees panoramic.
9. Use a good stitching program and there I have not found any software that beats Photoshop CS though I believe Photoshop Elements does it well to, though I have never used it. Why Photoshop Lightroom does not have it is beyond me. You can download the trial for any of them and try.
10. Lastly, it takes processing time to do a panoramic image, be patient.

But most importantly, enjoy making and sharing them.

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