Since the existence of digital cameras, panoramic photography has become available to any photographer. You just need to feel like it.
If you are interested in experimenting with this type of photography, in today's article I bring you 12 tips with which you can make stunning panoramic shots .
TIPS FOR PANORAMIC PHOTOGRAPHY
1) Use a lens between 35 and 50mm: A wide-angle lens will produce optical distortions (almost similar to those of a fisheye) that will later make it difficult for you to align the shots with each other.
On the other hand, you are not interested in using a telephoto lens because you will get extremely small frames. The ideal, therefore, would be to shoot with a focal length of between 35 and 50mm.
Lousville Bridge, shot with an iPhone 42) Aperture of diaphragm f / 8: If you are portraying a landscape your thing would be to shoot with a medium aperture of diaphragm, something about f / 8 or so. This is due to the fact that normally in a photographic panorama we do not look for a single protagonist element that we want to focus exclusively on, but rather we are interested in the whole landscape coming out well focused. Openings between f / 8 and f / 11 allow for a completely focused picture.
Attention: Due to these small apertures (f / 8), you will most likely get dark photos. Try to solve it by shooting at relatively slow shutter speeds, slightly raising the ISO value, and using a tripod as we will see later.
3) Use a manual focus: So that the camera does not go crazy looking for a focus point, and so that all your photos are uniform in terms of focus, change the focus to “manual”, focus, and leave it locked there. This way all the shots will come out with the same level of focus.
Overview of Paris from Notre Dame4) Use a manual exposure: For all shots to be similar you will have to block the exposure of your camera. Same exposure, same aperture, same shutter speed, for all shots.
5) Use a manual White Balance: This is one of the few occasions when you will need to lock the White Balance of your camera. If you don't do it, you may get different shots, each with a slightly different color tone.
Use the "Custom" White Balance mode of your camera. This mode allows you to shoot a white folio thus indicating to your camera the "neutral" color tone that it has to use in all the photos to make them look alike.
Panoramic of a landscape in Colorado6) If you are going to capture a horizontal panorama, hold the camera vertically: This way you can capture a greater frame in each shot, which will give you more freedom when splicing the photos and joining them with each other. It is true that this way you will have to make more shots, but the final result is worth it
7) Activate the Help Grid: To keep all the shots correctly aligned, you should activate the Grid that many cameras currently have. This grid offers you visual help on the screen so as not to lose the line of your frames.
Sunset in Grande Rocques, Guernsey, France8) Overlap 30% : Shooting shots is only part of the job. The other part, just as important, will be to place the shots next to each other in a photo editing / postprocessing program. To be able to work the postprocessed quietly and at ease I recommend that at the time of shooting the shots do them overlapping at least 30% over each other . Why? Normally when you take the photos to the computer you realize small imperfections, errors, damaged areas, etc. Overlapping the photos by 30% gives you freedom and peace of mind, knowing that if a corner goes wrong you can replace it from the next photo.
9) Use tripod: If possible, kneecap tripod. On the one hand you will have stability and avoid falling into blurred or moved photos. On the other hand, a kneecap tripod will allow you to turn the camera calmly and smoothly in the desired direction. ( Here tips and recommendations on tripods ).
The Alps10) Turn your entire body on the heel of the opposite foot: In the absence of a tripod you will have to take the photos by turning on your body and trying to keep the camera at the same level. To rotate use the heel of your foot opposite the point from which you have started shooting and turn your whole body turning little by little. For example: if you start shooting from left to right, you will have to rest your body on the heel of your right foot, turn your body while shooting, while moving your left foot around to keep your balance.
11) Avoid moving objects: Being several overlapping shots, a typical error is that of moving objects of which only one part appears. For example if while shooting a panoramic photo there is a taxi that crosses the frame of one of the shots, in the final result you will see only half of the taxi, or a ghost of it. Beware of these errors because then it is difficult to eliminate them.
12) The secret ingredient is the composition: The charm of a panoramic photograph does not lie in the fact that it is precisely panoramic. Yes, that helps, but the composition is what will make it a good photographic work. Never neglect this aspect. Everything you photograph, whatever the technique, do it with the composition in mind.
In panoramic photography if you can apply for example the rule of thirds use it, you will get an impressive panoramic photo. The skies with clouds are also a winning bet.
From Mount God, Cambodia
HOW TO MAKE “EASY” PANORAMIC PHOTOGRAPHY?
The most common and usual way of taking panoramic photography is to shoot several digital shots with a digital camera and collect them later, during the postprocessing process, using a photo editing program such as Photoshop or any other. Although it is my preferred method, I recognize that it involves a certain complexity and involves a lot of effort, precision, and time in front of the computer trying to make them fit. It's the artisanal method let's say.
There are, however, methods that are equally effective but much easier and that hardly involve any effort:
Digital cameras with “Panoramic” function included: Many cameras offer the panoramic photo function in a simplified and almost automatic way. Simply activate the function in question, press the shutter button, and turn the camera in the desired direction. After a few seconds the camera will finish recording the shots and automatically process all those shots to generate, in a matter of 1 or 2 seconds, a beautiful panoramic photo. I have personally tried this function on the Panasonic Lumix TZ30 and I found the result impressive. Cell phones like the iPhone 5 also have this feature.
Spinner 360 ° Lomographic Camera: This is an analog camera, reel or film, which allows you to take fun 360º panoramic photos just by giving the trigger. You don't need to worry about anything other than capturing a good composition. The good thing is that you can even take panoramic photos of moving objects and subjects. The camera captures the panoramic photo so quickly that everything freezes. One last. Here are some examples of the results it offers ( See price on Amazon ).
As you can see there are different ways to make panoramic photography, from the slowest and most professional to the fastest and easiest. The truth is that, use the method you use, fun and creativity will be assured
I hope that today's article has been useful to you. As always, if you find it useful, do not hesitate to give me a vote / recommendation on your favorite social network. Thanks in advance.
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