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