There is more to Panoramic Photography than just taking pictures from left to write and piecing them together to create a wide-angled photo. There are different methods involved in this type of photography and this article aims to highlight a few of them that you can use to further improve your skills.
1. Segmented or Stitched Panorama
This is practically a widely used method in Panoramic Photography. This method involves taking different picture called segments and piecing them together to form a single, wide-angled shot. Considering that this method incorporates a use of a single camera taking different photos, there is a large possibility of distortions that can greatly affect your results. The best way to reduce the possibility of parallax error, the photographer might want to use a tripod to maintain the angle or to move his or her location as each segment is taken. The segments are stitched together manually or through the use of photo-editing software, like Photoshop.
2. Fixed Lens or Wide-Angled Lens
Another method of Panoramic Photography is through the use of a wide-angled lens or fixed lens. These lenses are bundled with panoramic cameras using a sheet film of up to 10×24 inches. Due to the width of the film, a photographer can maximize the use of the lens to take photos without having to stitch different segments together and eliminate distortions.
3. Rotation
Two other methods in Panoramic Photography are Short Rotation and Full Rotation. The lens rotates along the nodal point on the rear end of the camera simultaneously with the film to create a panoramic shot. Short Rotation’s drawback is the low shutter speed that comes with these types of cameras — which is commonly used only in still or scenery shots. Full Rotation, on the other hand, is perfect for taking photos of speeding or moving subjects with its high shutter speed.
Knowing the different methods of Panoramic Photography gives the photographer a chance to find his or her capabilities in the art. Sticking to the modern method alone with its convenience limits your improvement, but trying your hand out in the different methods will allow you to fully-utilize your skills and create techniques that you can use later on.
