teach me how to shoot a panorama

[just eric]

Thanks to your insight, i have decided to purchase a canon g12 that I will be putting through its paces on many a camping and backpacking trip. Over the years I have attempted to take panorama shots but have never been able to get them quite right. I don't know how much it will hurt or help but I will be transfering the photos I take to iphoto. Thanks for your help.

 

[cchoc]

I don't know anything about that camera or its capabilities, but here are some tips:

Use a tripod
Don't use a polarizer
Keep the camera level - a pano head makes this easier but isn't necessary
Meter the exposure on the part of the scene you are most interested in and then use that to set manual exposure
Shoot in portrait orientation
Overlap each frame by 20% or more
Use PTGui to stitch the panorama

 

[JackW]

using a tripod with a bubble level on a ball head is nice - here's one I shot two weeks ago from the roof rack of my Land Rover on Buck Bald in Tennessee



but you can shoot hand held and get good results as well.







I stitched these together in photoshop.

Scott Kelby teaches his students a good trick that works well - before your first shot in a panorama hold your hand out in front of the lens with one finger extended - after your last shot hold out two fingers. It makes it easy to separate your panorama shots when you're working on your computer later.