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Tag Archives: panning
Back To Main Street Part 2 -
It was suggested by R J Smith that a previous panorama scene might look nice if it was snowing. I did return but only after the snow fall. The winds were otherwise too strong. One day, I’ll get the soft gentle flurries.
This panorama is wider than the first with a full 360 degrees. One personal critique is that I might have preferred tops of the two center buildings not be merged past the top edge. Still had fun experimenting.
(Click image below to view enlarged 2000 pixel wide version)
Note: If your browser re-sizes images to fit your browser window, you may not be viewing the full 2000 pixel width.
The conditions were overcast (cloudy) early sunrise. The light was very different from the first version even though it was overcast on that day too. Mid-day overcast is still much brighter than early sunrise overcast.
It was just after 6AM on a long weekend. I was able to take this 360 series of panorama shots set up in the road.
The Shooting Workflow:
- Check camera settings: aperture, white balance (set and test shots), ISO set to 100
- Set up tripod, mount camera on ball panning head, plug in remote shutter release
- Set panning head to 90 degrees portrait orientation and level
- Take sequential overlapping photos to complete one full turn (360 degrees)
- Review, recheck settings and re-shoot two more times.
The Processing Workflow:
- PhotoShop Photomerge to digitally stitch and save panorama as JPEG
- Open as Camera Raw format in PhotoShop Raw editor
- Create and save three JPEG exposures +2, 0, -2
- Open all exposures in Photomatix Pro (HDR) Tone Mapping / Details Enhancer
- PhotoShop various adjustments: dodge, burn, clone, blur, add noise, select area saturation / desaturation, lab sharpen.
That’s a wrap for this one, but…
Something about this spot. I’ve a feeling I’m done with this area yet.
Posted in Articles & News, Marc's Photos and Galleries
Also tagged 360, ball, degrees, head. photomatix, main, panorama, pro, processing, RJ, Smith, street, workflow
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How About A Full 360 Photograph?
Found a great spot with the latest urban graffiti and street art. Return to the back alleys of Queen Street in Toronto – that’s the place.
The 360 panorama you’re going to see totaled about 25 shots and consumes significant computing power for digital stitching, HDR and editing in general.
First, some notes about how to view this.
About Viewing The Toronto Back Alley 360 Degree Photo:
The full width of this extreme panorama won’t fit in this blog without extreme reduction in the width dimension. So click on the image below to launch a full view. If you have dial up, it could take a couple of minutes to load into your internet browser. Cable and high speed should still be fairly fast for this 1 megabyte optimized photo. Then use the scroll bar to view the whole width.
(Note: if your internet browser resizes image to fit, don’t bother with this image link).
(Click on the image below to launch and view the full 360 degree photo)
How to shoot a 360 panaroma
What Marc used:
- Tripod
- Remote shutter release (Or use the Self Timer Function)
- Panning head on tripod
- Wide angle lens
Shooting the 360 degree panaroma
How Marc set up and took the shot sequence:
- Set in the center on two intersecting alleyways.
- Note your starting point for the first shot.
- Ensure that each shot overlaps content. Lots of overlap is good.
- This 360 was about 25 shots total.
- Use a relatively wide angle focal length. This was about 26mm.
- Set camera to Aperture Priority shooting mode and set a mid to high f-number, this was f13.
- This ensures everything is in focus from front to back of the scene.
- Check that your white balance matches the lighting conditions or set to custom white balance.
- Start shooting until your return to the same point of the last shot.
- Although this will be processed in HDR, I took one shot of each frame and did not use Exposure Bracketing common to HDR photography. More ahead in the next section.
Processing a 360 degree panaroma
Marc’s work flow:
- Shot in Raw format (habit). You can shoot in common JPEG format.
- I converted my shots to JPEG.
- Digitally stitched with PhotoShop Photomerge and save.
- Open the stitched as file type Camera Raw.
- In the Raw photo editor, save three JPEG exposures +2, 0, -2.
- Open the three JPEG exposures in Photomatix Pro and apply Tone Mapping / Details Enhancer.
- Save HDR processed file and open in PhotoShop for some final edits.
- Sit back and say “Coool!”
Let me know if you have any questions…always a pleasure. Comments are always welcomed too.
Did you have fun today?
Posted in Articles & News, Marc's Photos and Galleries
Also tagged 360, alley, aperture, back, bracketing, degree, details, digital, editor, enhancer, exposure, f-number, format, hdr, head, mapping, marc, pano, panorama, panoramic, photo, photomatix, photomerge, photoshop, priority, pro, queen, raw, release, remote, shutter, stitching, street, tone, toronto
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Shooting Panoramas – A Better Ball Panning Head
A while back I was just about to purchase one and canceled. I noticed within the same brand, a notable feature on another model.
Key Feature Advantage Pro Gold II Easy PQR
If there is a panning head above the ball you have two benefits.
- You do not need to level the tripod, only the panning head atop the ball.
- You can pan vertically. Typically panoramas are always horizontal. Why not vertical too?
I was near completing the order online for the Photo Clam Panning Ball Head PC-40NS when I came across the Pro Gold II Easy PQR with a panning head above the ball.
Pro Gold II Easy PQR
Vertical panning has possibilities.
Here’s an initial experiment I plan to expand on called wide angle vertical panoramas.
About ordering from Photo Clam…
It appears that North American Retailers haven’t caught on to Photo Clam products at the time of this article. You can order the line at eBay. It’ll come directly from South Korea for under $400.00 dollars and includes shipping. Regular shipping took 7 days to Canada.
I would suggest for anyone interested, to ensure you would also order the Photo Clam universal quick release plate (PC-10-UP) or a Photo Clam camera specific quick release from the seller. My seller was dsummer. I don’t guarantee anything, other than to tell you I had a very good experience and have to understand I have no retailers here I can walk into if I damage the item or need a repair. Make sure you understand the seller’s product support or lack thereof.
Overall Impressions
I’ve taken at least several hundred shots with this in the last few weeks. The movements are very smooth and characteristic of engineering and manufacturing within very precise tolerances for all adjustments, levers and buttons.
I found the panning motion on some other brands of heads were too tight and at risk of moving the tripod. This model is firm and smooth. There is an adjustment to fine tune the grip of the quick release plate located under the lever. The instructions are in Korean. Being technically inclined, I figured how to adjust that with the tool included. I might only be concerned the average consumer might be frustrated with only illustrations. I did find directions for that adjustment in English.
Very pleased with the product build, quality and functionality.
Here’s a video.
This guy seems to like it a lot. The demo is showing some lower end models without the upper panning head and levels above the ball.
Oh yeah, this vertical panning is going to be fun!
Are you curious? Have any questions?
Look Up, Way Up…CN Tower Vertical Panorama
The shot won’t fit on most screens, so be ready to scroll through from the tip of the tower right down to street view. My vantage point is the top of a twenty story office building.
I was off to downtown Toronto, an office building facing the landmark CN Tower. I had a new panning head to try out. The icing on the cake…it’s nighttime. Perfect for nice long exposures and rich ambient light.
Every time you step out the door, bring your camera. Stuff happens.
Click, click, click!
Got any questions? Just ask.
Posted in Articles & News, Marc's Photos and Galleries
Also tagged building, cn, digital, head, long exposure., nightime, office, panorama, Photography, stitched, stitching, toronto, tower, vertical
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Right Time, Wrong Place (And Avoid Foggy Lenses) -
Anyone who had a camera was taking shots of this sunset. It’s just one of those moments where you wished you were out in the country or had some impressive architecture in the foreground to go with the awesome sunset happening at the moment.
This will still do just fine.
(Click to see a larger, more detailed version)
This is why you bring your camera with you everywhere you go.
Stopping by a neighborhood store, I told Marguerite I’d catch up. Pop the trunk and grab the SLR. Quick check on the ISO and the white balance, click, click, click for three shots panned. Two more sets of three just in case. Then, back in the studio to see what happened, stitched them together. Yes, looks like it’s good enough for the blog.
Tip of the day:
How to avoid a foggy lens in winter.
Assuming you have a camera bag, In winter, I put mine in the trunk when traveling. If a good photo op comes up, and they usually do, I’m ready to shoot fog free. Because the camera gear is in a case or back pack, the transition from house to cold will be gradual. Later, when I take it out into the wintry air, it’s cooled down further and acclimatized. Almost never a foggy lens.
Bringing your camera back indoors from the cold, always leave it in the case, sling pack or back pack. This way it again transitions gradually to the temperature swing.
Note: The lens might be OK so check the view finder. Sometimes the warmth from your eye will fog it up on cold day.
Don’t know about arctic extremes or doing the Iditarod.
If you got a new camera this Holiday Season and need some help getting started and inspired, check us out at the Sharing Digital Photography Worldwide forums. Then join the friendliest bunch of budding photographers you’ll ever come to know.
Have fun and keep on clicking!
Photo Clam Panning Ball Head PC-40NS
PC-40NS Black Photo Clam
A Panning Head is used to shoot panoramas, a series of photos that overlap to digitally stitch them together for wide dramatic scenes.
Just when I thought there wasn’t much out there in the market, a little research proved that wrong.
As an alternative and on the cheap and cheerful side I tested the Manfrotto 804RC2 Pan Tilt Head with Quick Lock. I still maintain the quality and value for that product, but I was missing the simplicity and set up speed of the ball head. I’ve been using a ball head for sometime, but without the panning feature.
I just ordered the Photo Clam from Seoul, South Korea via eBay, more specifically the PC-40NS Black Photo Clam. Seems not a lot of major retailers have caught onto to this yet, not even B&H. The PC-40NS is rated to hold up to 35 kg (77 lbs) and other models well over 90 kg (200 lbs). Photo Clam is known for it’s super smooth movements and secure locking, I’m looking forward to testing this product.
With the lack or retail support in North America on the date of this article, eBay served the purpose with a Power Seller rated supplier where you could knock the “Buy Now” price down a little with counter offers.
Photo Clam Features
- Easy to handle plate clamp. A knob on the side of the quick shoe, allows for easy handling of the plate clamp.
- Powerful Main Ball . Load capacity of the ball is key. The ball head is secure and holds at any angle. No slipping or distortion.
- Ultimate Multi-Functional Grip. Main handle has a dial with a scale from 1 to 12. Allows for free movement of the ball head. Turning the dial knob clockwise, friction increases, locking the ball head into position.
- Secret function / Control Screw. By turning the screw with the tip of your thumb, minimum friction force is set, allowing the multi-functional grip to be loosened to the set position.
- One Touch Safety Button. One-touch slip stopper at the bottom of the Quick Shoe secures your camera and guards against accidental detachment and mishaps.
- Tripod Connecting Socket. Under the ball head, the 3/8″ socket is industry standard and compatible with most tripod brands.
Photo Clam ball heads make a difference
- Designed to handle extreme outdoor weather conditions.
- Perfect alignment with two built-in spirit levels.
- Compatible with most camera brands and sizes.
- Optimal adjustments, secure and precise positioning with friction screw adjustments.
- Offers exact degrees of precision for 360 horizontal pans with the panoramic base and locking knob.
Compatability
Industry standard 3/8″ female thread on the base, mounts to most tripod brands like Manfrotto, Gitzo, Velbon, Slik and more.
For mounting your camera or lens, you will need a double dovetail (aka Arca-Swiss) type of quick release plate.
Two options for plates:
- Buy a standard size plate which will fit practically any camera or lens system with ease and stability.
- For utmost security, stability and aesthetic integration, buy one of the Photo Clam camera-specific enginereed quick release plates. These plates are custom fitted to the body of the particular model of camera you own, ensuring the most secure connection between tripod head and camera.
Once it arrives and is tested vigorously, I’ll give you a review. Thanks for dropping by!
PS. By the time I completed writing this, a twist. More to come…
…Update February 17 – check out the final choice, click here.
Panorama in The Hague
Ian Worling and Ellen Graham Worling hosted us on a brief stop over in Amsterdam and The Hague. We had an excellent walking tour and time to stop for lunch and catch up . Great to see our friends again and let it be known they have the most comfortable guest bed in Holland.
Featuring a super wide panorama
From inside the square of the government buildings in The Hague. Click on the image below to enlarge.
Ian, like “Where’s Waldo?”, did you find yourself in the photo?
The application used is PhotoShop’s Photomerge function. Combined four hand-held shots. I would suggest a tripod for consistent results.
The project details
- Hand held panning, four shots.
- Canon 24-105mm lens (like that’s a surprise). Wide angle focal range used.
- PhotoShop Photomerge File > Automate > Photomerge
PhotoShop Photomerge dialog box settings
First, click on Browse and select images from your computer or Add Open Files.- Each image must have overlapping photo information so the application has reference points to match up.
- Select Layout Auto (Experiment with other settings).
- Check Blend Images Together.
- Click OK.
- On the final image, straighten.
- Crop out blank space.
Photomerging takes some practice and patience in the beginning. Trying a few projects from time to time helps build your intuition for what works.
Other photo-stitching applications:
Photo-stitching opens up a whole new style of photography for anyone willing to be adventuresome. Have fun.
Have a question? Just ask. 
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