Panoramic Pictures

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