In this lesson: Learn how to create classic panoramic images

Understanding how to use the panoramic format will help you utilize it to create images with a much stronger sense of space than is possible in a typical photo.

In basic terms, a panoramic photo is one with a significantly wide aspect ratio. While there is no strict definition of the format, a panorama is generally considered to be a photo displayed in a width that approximates or exceeds the human field of vision. This generalization classifies the format as having a ratio of width to height in the range of 2:1 or wider.

While panoramic photography is sometimes referred to as “wide format photography,” it’s important to realize that a photo taken with a wide-angle lens doesn’t necessarily result in a panorama. Because most standard cameras aren’t intended for this elongated format, panoramic photos are usually created in one of two ways:

• After taking a photo at the normal aspect ratio of a camera, the image is cropped along the horizontal axis to frame the desired portion of the scene in the panoramic format. Think of it like cutting down a piece of wood lengthwise – you get rid of the undesired parts on the top and the bottom.
• A series of photos is taken while rotating a tripod-mounted camera incrementally along the horizontal axis. The images are later “stitched” together with image processing software to create a wide strip. This method is more time intensive, but renders better results.

Because they offer a field of view that’s equal to or wider than that of our eyes, panoramic photos tend to engage viewers very deeply. In fact, panoramic photos are widely believed to have a calming effect on viewers. Some of the technical and creative benefits of the panoramic format are:

• It allows for dynamic focal points across a wide plane. In other words, you can incorporate multiple points of interest into one shot. For example, in the landscape image of the lake, a panoramic format allowed the photographer to include the entirety of the mountain peak on the left as well as the tops of the trees on the far right.
• It makes the background a significant player in the composition, meaning, background elements have a more impactful interaction with foreground elements.
• Photos can be creatively stitched together to create unusual and surreal views.

Challenge Activity

Today’s activity focuses on capturing a series of photos of traditional subjects for panoramic formatting.

Step 1: Scout a location in which you can position your camera and align it to create a panorama of a traditional subject, like a landscape.

Step 2: Set up your tripod and camera to take a series of photos of the landscape. Study the left and right sides of the scene through the camera before beginning the shoot. Establish the borders and adjust the camera angle and point of view to maximize the impact of the final image.

Step 3: To maintain a natural appearance, level your camera carefully when setting up. To maximize the final image quality when stitching images horizontally, shoot with your camera oriented vertically.

Step 4: Take a series of photos, starting at one of your established borders and rotating the tripod head horizontally before each successive shot until you reach the opposite border. Note a point in the viewfinder at the edge of the frame you’re moving towards and include it at the opposite edge of the frame for the next photo. This will ensure enough overlap to stitch your images without gaps. For example, in the image of the giraffes, your first image might include up to the head of the baby giraffe, which would be on the far right side of the frame. Then, your second image should also include the baby giraffe, only this time on the far left side of the frame.

Step 5: When you return home, load the series of images into your choice of software to stitch the photos into a panoramic image. This can be achieved in several commercial software packages. Check the software that came with your camera – many modern digital cameras are equipped with or accompanied by panorama creation applications.

Alternate Method

If you don’t have access to the appropriate software or prefer not to stitch multiple images, follow steps 1 and 2 above, then simply take horizontal photos of the setting you choose. When you return home, use your image processing software to crop the images to an aspect ratio of 2:1 or higher. This method will yield images with less overall quality, due to the magnification of noise and any aberration within the photos, but is a less time-intensive way of creating a panorama.