Reviewing my Photography in 2010: Panoramas

Just as with tone-mapping, panoramas are a relatively "technical" photograph, and I find my technical brain is relatively good at these kinds of pictures. As the year as progressed, I've tried some more ambitious and challenging panoramas, including HDR panoramas, the application of tone-mapping to MDR images, and polar coordinate panoramas ("planets").

The two big lessons learned: using a tripod helps hugely, and taking panoramas from a moving boat doesn't help achieve something seamless.

Using a panorama as an extreme wide-angle lens, only one without the distortion.

Compare this image to the tone-mapped HDR and you can see the detail that goes missing. Jun 22

A slight crack in the bridge as this image was taken while moving at 4mph.

Aiming for a Mediterranean "look" in a panorama of North Wales.

Sometimes the exposure of the sky doesn't stitch seamlessly.

Tone-mapping was necessary in this panorama so that the detail of the roof wouldn't be crushed against the blown-out whites from the windows.

All in all about 200 exposures were taken that morning to get the required positioning of skilifts, lighting, and (this being the viewpoint for the area) keeping nearby objects out of the way. This image took patience!