How to correctly shoot a series of images to be combined later into a Panorama

How to correctly shoot a series of images to be combined later into a Panorama

Seder Burns

1. Use a tripod. Using a tripod helps to insure accurate alignment of images. If you plan on using Hugin to assemble your images on the computer, I suggest you overlap each image somewhere between 30-50%.
1. 3 way tripod heads are preferable as they allow you to change just the horizontal axis independent of the other axis. If you use a ball head, it must have the option of rotating along the horizontal axis independently of the other axis.
   
2. You should level your camera when possible. Leveling your tripod insure that horizontal lines stay that way. If you have a built in level, use it. If you don’t have a tripod with a built in level, you can purchase a hot shoe mounted, dual axis, spirit level (around $35).
3. Using a tripod allows you to use a small aperture to increase depth of filed when desired without having to worry about blurry images due to camera shake.
4. If you have the means to do it, determine nodal point of your lens and pivot on its axis. This is most easily achieved by purchasing a commercially made panorama tripod head.
2. Use a cable release, electronic release, remote release, or self-timer to release the shutter. This avoids any potential blurriness caused by shaking the camera. If one image is blurrier than the others, then your panorama is ruined.
   
3. If your camera has a mirror lock up feature designed to minimize vibration cuased by the movement of the mirror, use it. This is different from a mirror lock up feature designed to flip up the mirror for the purpose of cleaning the sensor. Some cameras such as the Nikon D100 have an anti-shock feature that causes a delay after the mirror flips up to allow the vibration from the mirror to dissipate before the shutter opens.
4. Determine your exposure and then lock it in. If your camera has manual exposure capabilities, then set your exposure and don’t change it from shot to shot. If your camera doesn’t have manual exposure capabilities, try to find an exposure lock button and keep it pressed in while shooting each image. This insures consistency between each shot. This is super important.
1. When determining exposure, consider the brightness values of the whole scene. As always, determine your exposure for the highlights. Set your exposure based on the brightest area in which you wish to preserve full detail. Don’t worry if the shadows look very dark. You can always open them up later using software, but you can not restore blown out highlights.
2. Consider bracketing. Of course, I mean bracket the whole series and not from frame to frame.
3. When taking panoramas outside, be mindful of rapid changes in brightness caused by shifting cloud cover. This can result in stitched panoramas with abrupt changes in brightness and color.
5. Manually focus your camera for a given distance and do not refocus between each shot.
1. If you have a DSLR, you should focus manually. If you have trouble focusing manually, then use autofocus to focus the first image, then turn autofocus off to shoot the other shots. This will insure focus doesn’t change from image to image.
2. If you have a point and shoot style digital camera, then you can usually manual focus by selecting a distance at which to focus from a menu.
3. Carefully consider the distance at which you focus. Also consider your depth of field. Choose a small aperture for greater depth of field when desired.
6. To facilitate clean stitches, try to use the longest focal length you have available. This will necessitate moving further away from the subject. I realize that this is not always possible when shooting within confined spaces.
7. In order to minimize distortions caused by parallax, shoot directly at the things that are closest to you. Placing close objects directly in the center of a shot keeps them away from edges and seams where they are most problematic.
8. Use a lens hood to prevent/minimize flare. If you don’t have a lens hood for the lens you are using, then go buy one for it.
9. Manually set your white balance. Otherwise auto white balance may change setting from image to image. I suggest you set it for the dominant light source. If you are shooting under mixed lighting, you may want to set the white balance using a white or gray card (see your camera manual for instructions on how to do this).
10. Shoot in RAW file format. This will allow give the greatest image quality and the greatest latitude in editing.
11. I suggest that you sketch what you anticipate the completed panorama will look like. It is a real challenge to create a compelling panorama image. It is much larger frame to make use of. Often, only part of the image is interesting.
12. Don't use a polarizer. The effect of polarizers varies according to the angle to the sun. So, the effect will change as you rotate the camera. I suppose you could use a graduated neutral density filter, but you would have to insure that you are absolutely level.