Hi all,
I would like to know if anyone has any tips and/or tricks for taking good 180-degree photos.
Our house has beautiful views, and I'd like to be able to capture that -- 180-degree photos are the only things I've seen that can do this without distorting the image.
The only time I've ever tried this was a number of years ago, and it was okay at the time, but you could tell the exposure was different in each shot I used to assemble the panorama, etc.
Can you just stand in one spot and take several photos at different rotations? Or do you do use special equipment? Do something special to make sure the lighting is right? Is a tripod necessary?
This isn't something I'll be doing anytime soon -- probably not for months. But hey, it never hurts to ask!
Thanks in advance!
180-degree photos -- tips?
180-degree photos -- tips?
Brooke
Hi Brooke
Has your photo software a panorama or "stitch" feature? I've had lots of different software free with cameras etc and most seem to include panorama so its worth checking yours out. Adobe Photo Elements (the cut down Photoshop) has this as a easy to use feature. I don't think that software is too expensive.
I guess a tripod would be better for consitency. Not sure re lighting etc, one of the professional photographers can probably advise on that.
I've just bought one of those Olypmus Mini Mju cameras that's been heavily advertised and I'm thrilled with it. (it is mini!)The largest memory card comes with a panorama feature for that and the camera itself. You can also shoot up to 30 mins Quicktime movie with that card too - I might have a go at a "walk thru" movie of my cottage but not sure re sound - my husband might narrate for me!!
Has your photo software a panorama or "stitch" feature? I've had lots of different software free with cameras etc and most seem to include panorama so its worth checking yours out. Adobe Photo Elements (the cut down Photoshop) has this as a easy to use feature. I don't think that software is too expensive.
I guess a tripod would be better for consitency. Not sure re lighting etc, one of the professional photographers can probably advise on that.
I've just bought one of those Olypmus Mini Mju cameras that's been heavily advertised and I'm thrilled with it. (it is mini!)The largest memory card comes with a panorama feature for that and the camera itself. You can also shoot up to 30 mins Quicktime movie with that card too - I might have a go at a "walk thru" movie of my cottage but not sure re sound - my husband might narrate for me!!
This is a good question that has also been puzzling me. When I take panoramas with several pictures, each comes out with a different exposure level. That can often be fixed by matching up brightness and contrast in Photoshop (or similar). But not always.
The other problem is that as you swivel round to take the different parts of the picture, you are altering your 'angle of attack' and that results in the pics not matching up. I'll show you what I mean:
I've lined up the mountain top and that part of the pic is fine. The skies match up OK. The lower you go though, the more disparity there is between the two, till you get to the handrail which is just hopeless. Anyone know how to avoid this?
What does the Photoshop stitch function actually do? Does it even out the levels?
Panoramas are really a good selling point - if you've got one, flaunt it.
The other problem is that as you swivel round to take the different parts of the picture, you are altering your 'angle of attack' and that results in the pics not matching up. I'll show you what I mean:
I've lined up the mountain top and that part of the pic is fine. The skies match up OK. The lower you go though, the more disparity there is between the two, till you get to the handrail which is just hopeless. Anyone know how to avoid this?
What does the Photoshop stitch function actually do? Does it even out the levels?
Panoramas are really a good selling point - if you've got one, flaunt it.
Paolo
Lay My Hat
Lay My Hat
Hm... I've never even looked for a stitch feature, to tell you the truth. I never touch the software that came with the digital camera -- I prefer Photoshop or PSP (because it's cheaper and I'm a po' student). They probably do have such a function. Iiinteresting.
Paolo, I'm not sure there is a way to fix the near-field distortion, but then, I am definitely not the expert on these things. It's good to know, though, that when I try this I'll need to keep the camera clear of major nearby features! It should work since the bottom of the panorama will be the river, and water is theoretically not too hard to match.
Re: the light levels, one thing I thought of is to manually set the exposure and contrast and such in the camera. That ought to keep the same features exposed at the same level in each image. My digital camera can automate everything, but everything can also be manually set. I've just never done it!
Paolo, I'm not sure there is a way to fix the near-field distortion, but then, I am definitely not the expert on these things. It's good to know, though, that when I try this I'll need to keep the camera clear of major nearby features! It should work since the bottom of the panorama will be the river, and water is theoretically not too hard to match.
Re: the light levels, one thing I thought of is to manually set the exposure and contrast and such in the camera. That ought to keep the same features exposed at the same level in each image. My digital camera can automate everything, but everything can also be manually set. I've just never done it!
Brooke
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livinginitaly
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- Location: Italy (at last!)
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The latest version of Photoshop (CS) has the 'stitch and merge' feature which will create a 'panoramic' type image. But it is extremely difficult with earlier versions (well, for me it was anyway!). Hence the reason why we invested in MGI Photovista (now defunct software, but still works great).
Most recently we've sent off for a 360 degree 'fisheye' lens and still eagerly awaiting delivery
If it's just the one or two images you'd like making, send me the masters .... i'd be only to happy to convert to a panorama for you. I need something to pass the time, whilst we wait to exchange contracts here in UK!
You can also download a trial version of Easy Panorama here ...
http://www.easypano.com/trialversions.html
the full version costs around $99
Most recently we've sent off for a 360 degree 'fisheye' lens and still eagerly awaiting delivery
If it's just the one or two images you'd like making, send me the masters .... i'd be only to happy to convert to a panorama for you. I need something to pass the time, whilst we wait to exchange contracts here in UK!
You can also download a trial version of Easy Panorama here ...
http://www.easypano.com/trialversions.html
the full version costs around $99
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Christine Kenyon
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- Location: Glenridding, Ullswater Valley, Lake District, UK
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Tony, are you serious? In a way this is an answer to another thread about an effective banner/headline (I'm not sure of the exact terminology) for our website, but at the mo I don't have the photos I need. Are you prepared to wait till later in the year?
Christine
www.stybarrowcottage.co.uk
(a website which we've updated, but still has a boring -and very blue - headline!)
Christine
www.stybarrowcottage.co.uk
(a website which we've updated, but still has a boring -and very blue - headline!)
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livinginitaly
- Posts: 202
- Joined: Fri Oct 29, 2004 4:46 pm
- Location: Italy (at last!)
- Contact:
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livinginitaly
- Posts: 202
- Joined: Fri Oct 29, 2004 4:46 pm
- Location: Italy (at last!)
- Contact:
Paolo,
the varying 'perspectives' of multiple image is what causes the distortions. Our brain effectively 'stitches' the dual images into one seamless panorama (sorry if eggs and grannies come to mind!)
Taking multiple 'flat images (each one acceptable in its own right) and attempting to 'blend' is an horrific task, but can be done.
This image is a blend of 8 separate images taken looking up and down at varying distances along the properties length.
Because of the layout of the garden, it was impossible to take this picture 'normally'.
As is often the case though, the end result doesn't show the hours of work that went into producing it!
p.s. just to show how much i like to 'fill my time', some obvious 'quality loss' due to not having the masters, but .......
the varying 'perspectives' of multiple image is what causes the distortions. Our brain effectively 'stitches' the dual images into one seamless panorama (sorry if eggs and grannies come to mind!)
Taking multiple 'flat images (each one acceptable in its own right) and attempting to 'blend' is an horrific task, but can be done.
This image is a blend of 8 separate images taken looking up and down at varying distances along the properties length.
Because of the layout of the garden, it was impossible to take this picture 'normally'.
As is often the case though, the end result doesn't show the hours of work that went into producing it!
p.s. just to show how much i like to 'fill my time', some obvious 'quality loss' due to not having the masters, but .......
Last edited by livinginitaly on Wed Jan 26, 2005 2:05 am, edited 1 time in total.
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livinginitaly
- Posts: 202
- Joined: Fri Oct 29, 2004 4:46 pm
- Location: Italy (at last!)
- Contact:
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livinginitaly
- Posts: 202
- Joined: Fri Oct 29, 2004 4:46 pm
- Location: Italy (at last!)
- Contact:
Hard to put into words really (though quite straight forward once you know what buttons to press).
The image on the left seemed to me to be the most 'natural', so any adjustments were made to the right image.
In fireworks (though photoshop has it too), i selected the distort option. This allows you to 'stretch' one corner of the image. The effect this has is to greatly 'bend' the detail in the selected corner, whilst leaving the detail in the opposite corner relatively unchanged.
After some playing around, you can 'straighten' rogue horizontal or vertical lines and get the 'merge' to blend more or less seamlessly.
Then comes the actual 'join' line, in this case i managed to get it pretty close by altering the colour balance 'slightly', then applied a transparency brush along the edge where the images overlapped, just to 'smooth' the transition.
I didn't actually time myself, but i'd say it took around 15 mins including getting the image online. The more time you spend on it though the better the result.
Also helps if you adjust the resolution to 150dpi whilst doing the adjusting, even though you'll be exporting it at 72dpi.
The image on the left seemed to me to be the most 'natural', so any adjustments were made to the right image.
In fireworks (though photoshop has it too), i selected the distort option. This allows you to 'stretch' one corner of the image. The effect this has is to greatly 'bend' the detail in the selected corner, whilst leaving the detail in the opposite corner relatively unchanged.
After some playing around, you can 'straighten' rogue horizontal or vertical lines and get the 'merge' to blend more or less seamlessly.
Then comes the actual 'join' line, in this case i managed to get it pretty close by altering the colour balance 'slightly', then applied a transparency brush along the edge where the images overlapped, just to 'smooth' the transition.
I didn't actually time myself, but i'd say it took around 15 mins including getting the image online. The more time you spend on it though the better the result.
Also helps if you adjust the resolution to 150dpi whilst doing the adjusting, even though you'll be exporting it at 72dpi.
Tony,
Thank you for the offer! It might be months and months before I actually get over to France (I'm in CT, USA right now) to take the images, though... but when I do I'll take as many as possible.
...I'm just staring slack-jawed at what you did to Paolo's image. I would never have thought to try distorting it! What a great idea! And your other image is so well-done that I can't even see a hint of seams. Wow.
...clearly I have a lot to learn about this type of imaging!
Thank you for the offer! It might be months and months before I actually get over to France (I'm in CT, USA right now) to take the images, though... but when I do I'll take as many as possible.
...I'm just staring slack-jawed at what you did to Paolo's image. I would never have thought to try distorting it! What a great idea! And your other image is so well-done that I can't even see a hint of seams. Wow.
...clearly I have a lot to learn about this type of imaging!
Brooke