Pittsburgh Post Gazette Panoramic Series - How?

[hoffsc1]

<p><a href="http://www.post-gazette.com/localnews/panorama/">http://www.post-gazette.com/localnews/panorama/</a><br>

Anyone have any idea how these are done? The people in the photographs never seem to be too interested in the photographer, so that leads me to believe he's using something small and portable. <br>

I was even more baffled when I saw this one <a href="http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09278/1002888-429.stm">http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09278/1002888-429.stm</a> which has mirrors everywhere. I see a tripod in the mirror, but no camera. I'm sure it was probably PS'd out. I think these are excellent and would love to try it if it's possible without $50k in equipment. The Post Gazette is a little vague on the process. Is this something PS can handle once the images are captured? <br>

Thanks. </p>

[tonmestrom]

<p>Scott yes. You can stitch photos in PS and some other programms but this was done with a 360 degree panoramic camera.</p>

<p> </p>

<blockquote>

<p>The people in the photographs never seem to be too interested in the photographer, so that leads me to believe he's using something small and portable</p>

</blockquote>

<p>this has nothing to do with the size of any camera.</p>

<p> </p>

[michael s.]

<p>Actually, Ton (and Scott), the Post Gazette's notes on the linked page include this one, asserting that the photographer used stitching software to produce his images.</p>

<p><em>"</em> <strong><strong><em>About Pittsburgh Revolution</em> . </strong> </strong> <em>Photographer Steve Mellon takes several pictures over a period of time, then stitches them together in a computer."</em></p>

<br /> There are a number of stitching programs available for download -- some free ones as well. Never having used this software, I can't say much more. :)<a href="http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09278/1002888-429.stm#ixzz0afDikKVY"></a> <br />

[tonmestrom]

<p>Thanks Michael. In that case I stand corrected. Must be a hell of a job though.</p>

<p>When I was trained they at one point invited a Finnish photographer over to the Acadamy (can't recall the name, I think he was either from Tampa or there was a annual panoramic photofestival there) who made a living of panoramic shots (this was all pre-digital). He had several camera's with him and he actually took us out and invited us to work with him while later we got to see the results. He did a lot of commercial work for industries and what not all over the place but also did a lot of work for himself. Although I only got to see them as prints his results looked like the above links.</p>

[fate_faith_change_chains]

<p> There are more than one ways but do to it "right" what's needed is a tripod with a <a href="http://www.360precision.com/360/index.cfm?precision=products.home&mainnavID=2">pano-head</a> to mount the camera on. I use a nikon D70 with a 8mm fisheye lens on it, with this set-up the panohead is turned 5 clicks ( with three exposure brackets per click ) to go all around. The taking of the pics themselfes can be done very fast and easy, no problems with that, no need for composition, etc....<br>

For stitching you can use software like <a href="http://hugin.sourceforge.net/">Hugin</a>, which is available for free. After that you use software like CubicConvertor to convert the Equirectangular stitched image into a quicktime vr movie.</p>

[rickbarbosa]

<p>I can't afford a panoramic camera or a wide enough lens to capture a lot of the shots I want, but I do use The Arcsoft program to stitch ultra wide panOs, and more, if I need to. Try it or any other stitch program before you spend a lot of money on the "right" equipment. Haven't tried it with a fisheye, or anything wider than 18mm, but i like the results from my 28mm better, as it's not as distorted on the edges, but still covers a lot of area. </p>

[scott_ferris]

<p>Guys you can do this for nearly nothing very very well with a point and shoot. Indeed P&S give the best results, you can even do it handheld but a tripod makes it much better and faster.</p>

<p>This is the best value head on the market but if you are handy there are instructions for DIY versions on the net, http://gregwired.com/pano/pano.htm</p>

<p>This site links to any pano info you might need http://www.panoguide.com/howto/panoramas/spherical.jsp</p>

<p>This is an example of the software that turns your stitched image into a viewable sphere as well as many other things http://www.ptgui.com/</p>

<p>All up less than $200 for off the shelf, DIY head and freeware will get you there slower but cheaper.</p>

[alan_zinn]

<p>Guys,</p>

<p>I got a Panosaurus - it is very cheap and functional. It is a quick way to get the hang of stiched panos. Problem is it weighs a ton. I use it to find nodal point of each of my cameras and then I make a simple fixed-size pano bracket. The one shown here is a piece of heavy cardboard packing material. <br>

Another slick way to stich pan is on a monopod. It makes panning without a bracket easier.<br>

AZ</p><div></div>