| Since the dawn of the photographic age, | | | | photography has raised picture taking to |
| in the early eighteen hundreds, artists | | | | an entirely new level. Digital |
| and photographers have pushed the limits | | | | technology has made the creation of |
| of this incredible invention. Over the | | | | panoramic images much easier. Even the |
| years, constant innovations and | | | | invention of the airplane provided |
| advancements in photographic technology | | | | photographers with opportunities to give |
| have turned novice picture takers into | | | | us images that were impossible to |
| real camera hounds. One aspect of | | | | capture before the invention of powered |
| photography that has fascinated | | | | flight. |
| professionals and amateurs alike is the | | | | Many panoramas are actually a |
| panoramic image. | | | | compilation of two or more photographic |
| In the early days of photography, | | | | images. The multiple images are |
| capturing a photographic image was a | | | | combined using a process that some refer |
| laborious task. Unlike the almost | | | | to as stitching. The entire process of |
| instantaneous results available through | | | | creating panoramas has been made easier |
| modern digital technology, the process | | | | with the development of specialized |
| of permanently fixing an image to a | | | | computer software. Many smaller images |
| photographic plate could take hours. | | | | can be stitched together with a high |
| Panoramic images are not formally | | | | degree of accuracy. These powerful |
| defined but generally extend beyond what | | | | software tools also allow the panoramic |
| is considered a wide angle shot. Wide | | | | artist to enhance the image in many |
| angle photo images are taken in a single | | | | different ways. |
| camera shot using a lens that shortens | | | | Colors can be balanced and flaws in the |
| the focal length of a standard lens and | | | | image corrected in a matter of minutes. |
| increases the view angle. Panoramic | | | | Prior to the introduction of digital |
| images feature an extremely wide view | | | | technology, retouching the image could |
| angle and can produce very unique still | | | | be very time consuming. In the days of |
| images of landscapes, structures and | | | | film photography, the image would need |
| other subject matter. | | | | to be spray painted, or airbrushed, |
| A super wide angle lens produces a fish | | | | using very fine, handheld spray nozzles. |
| eye view that contains a great deal of | | | | The touchup artist needed a keen eye |
| optical and dimensional distortion. So | | | | for detail and a very steady hand. |
| it is accurate to think of panoramas as | | | | The demand for panoramic images has |
| super wide angle images that can have | | | | increased steadily over the years. |
| far less visual distortion. The lack of | | | | Digital photo technology has greatly |
| distortion gives the viewer the | | | | increased the availability of panoramas |
| impression of the subject as it might be | | | | and the variety of images and subject |
| seen through eyes of the viewer. Some | | | | matter has increased as well. |
| panoramic images are will retain some | | | | Cityscapes have always been very popular |
| degree of visual distortion and this may | | | | with buyers. Demand has also grown |
| be the result of purposeful decision on | | | | sports and entertainment images like |
| the part of the photographer. | | | | sports stadiums, golf courses and |
| Even in the early days of photography, | | | | racetracks. |
| successful attempts were made to create | | | | Panoramas can be used to express a |
| stunning three hundred and sixty degree | | | | number of themes from the starkly |
| panoramas. The creation of these images | | | | realistic to the highly artistic. For |
| was truly a technological innovation for | | | | the most part, panoramas express visions |
| the time and demand to possess and | | | | of reality in ways that are not possible |
| collect these images began to grow. | | | | through viewing an ordinary photograph. |
| By pushing the limits of equipment, | | | | The grandeur of the Grand Canyon or the |
| lighting, film quality and processing, | | | | power of Niagara Falls, as seen through |
| photographers have discovered new and | | | | a panoramic image would surely be |
| exciting ways to create photographic | | | | understated when viewed as mere |
| images. The advent of digital | | | | snapshot. |