Panoramic Photography Technique

Panoramic photography is a unique technique that creates an image that is wider than the average field of vision produced by the human eye. This particular photography technique is a very popular way to capture larger than life images and is often applied to landscape photography, as well as to images of famous urban skylines. A panoramic image can be taken using several different techniques, with some being more effective than others, but the results can be quite stunning. This is especially true when the image is created by a professional photographer using state of the art equipment and several years of experience.

"Panoramic" should not be confused with "wide angle", when it comes to photography. Wide-angle lenses do, in fact, take photographs that have a much wider field of view than a more conventional photograph. But that being said, in most cases these images do not expand to much more than a 100-120 degree field of view; and even then the images can sometimes seem a bit distorted if not taken properly. Wide-angle images are also generally taken as a single photographic shot, meaning that with the right lens, one only needs to click the shutter button. Such photo techniques are often best applied if you're dealing with a single subject such as a large building or similar structure.

Panoramic photography, by comparison, is a bit more complicated. First and foremost, the scale used in this type of photography is much larger, with many of these images ranging from a 160 to a full 360-degree point of view. As one can imagine, this is simply not possible without some additional knowledge of photographic techniques and the right equipment. As a general rule of thumb, such photos can be taken in one of two ways, either by taking several pictures and then "stitching" them together, or one can utilize a rotating panoramic camera. Stitching is arguably the more common practice, as it can be done using more standardized photography equipment. In fact some modern cameras come equipped with features that make this process a great deal easier. Also, rotating panoramic cameras tend to be expensive, which makes them rare among most photographers.

Learning the ins and outs of panoramic photography can take a bit of time, but with a little bit of practice, even an amateur can produce stunning images. There are many books and videos on the subject, and classes can be taken through many local community colleges and universities as well.