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This page discusses photography techniques
for taking hemisphere pictures with digital and film cameras. While the methods
for compensating for over-exposure differ between film and digital cameras,
the basic concepts and ideas for panorama images are valid for both camera
types.
Equipments:
- Cameras: panorama digital cameras such as
Nikon 990, Nikon 950, Nikon 900, Nikon 800, Nikon 700, Olympus D-3x0R,
Olympus D-4x0 series (Nikon CoolPix990);
- Fisheye lens: compatible with panorama digital
or film cameras;
- Rotator: ordinary rotator is OK;
- Tripod: ordinary tripod is OK.
Recommended Configuration: Nikon CoolPix990
+Nikon FC-E8 lens
Procedures:
- Before taking any pictures,
inspect the equipment.
Check the fisheye
lens for smudges and clean it if necessary. Refer to your camera manual
for instructions. Panorama images are easier to create from hemispheres
taken with a stable tripod. When you set up your tripod, make sure the
legs are fully extended, and that the tripod does not wobble.
- Assembling the Camera, Tripod,
and Rotator according to the camera instructions
The Nikon Film Camera Kits arrive with the lens and rotator attached to
one another. These pieces of equipment have already been properly
aligned and should not be separated. If disassembled, realignment of
these parts is difficult. Even if you believe the alignment has been
reestablished you cannot be certain until after the film has been
processed.
(1)
Make sure the
camera is snug. The thumbscrew must enter the threaded mount at the
camera base at a 90„ angle.
(2) Tighten the thumbscrew snugly, but only with your
fingers. Tightening this screw with a wrench may damage the screw
threads and possibly your camera.
(3) Make sure that the camera back and
the back edge or lip of the rotator are flush. If the camera and rotator
are not aligned correctly, your panorama images may not line up
properly.
(4) If your camera is positioned
correctly on the rotator, the fisheye lens will line up directly over
the center of the tripod.
- Taking Your Pictures
You should always shoot consecutive image pairs without moving the tripod.
You should capture front/back, back/front, and front/back. Avoid
shooting front/front/front or back/back/back, for example. Shooting the
halves
out of order will make the production process more difficult. This
procedure is very useful when bracketing shots.
3.1 Composing the
Image
Composing a panorama image involves two major decisions: determining the
images point of view and seam placement. The most important decision is seam
placement. For example, if you are shooting a living room that features a
complex and detailed dried flower arrangement, avoid placing the seam in this
area. The second decision is to determine the point of view. Panorama images
place the viewer in the middle of the picture. Because of the perspective of
a panorama image, images that seem close to the camera when you take the
initial picture can appear farther away than they really are within the
panorama
image. Don't place the tripod exactly between two points of interest in the
scene. If you are taking pictures of a Christmas party, and the main focal
point of your image is the Christmas tree, you would want to place the tripod
close to the Christmas tree. When you create the panorama image from your
hemisphere images, the tree will be the primary object in the image.
3.2 Preparing for
the Shoot
The fisheye lens captures at least 180„ of the area surrounding the camera.
While this extra area allows more space for correction when creating a
panorama image, it also means that you must keep any part of your body out of
the image area.
Remove unwanted items before shooting.
Panorama images, which include people or live subjects (like animals), are
often more interesting then scenes with inanimate objects.
Pay attention to motion, especially at the image seam. People or animals
moving across the seam when you take a picture can appear blurred in the in
the final panorama image. Turn off any ceiling fans.
Tips for Digital
Cameras
Using Lighting
Lighting plays a
crucial role in how your hemispheres look as a completed
panorama image. Just like in traditional photography, you must be aware of
light sources. If you take a picture of a room facing the brightest light
source, a window for example, then that hemisphere will appear dark. The
opposing hemisphere will have normal exposure. When you build the panorama
image using these two hemispheres, the lighting will be unbalanced, with
one half of the image dark, and the other half-light.
- If there is a primary light source, place it
on the seam. This will balance the light between the hemispheres and
keep overexposure to a minimum.
- Use the Exposure Lock setting on a digital
camera to capture equal lighting between hemisphere pictures.
- To even out the lighting on sunny days,
close blinds or curtains and turn all room lights on.
Settings
If you recently
replaced the batteries in your digital camera, you may wish
to double-check the settings.
ß Before
taking your pictures, set your camera to its highest quality setting
(digital cameras only).
ß Disable
the flash. Please refer to your camera user manual for
instructions.
ß Be aware
of mirrors and windows that may reflect your image.
ß Make sure
you have plenty of fresh batteries with you. Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH)
batteries are highly recommended because of they last longer and are rechargeable.
3.3 Digital Cameras
Before you press the shutter button make sure the rotator is firmly clicked
into the proper position.
- Set the camera's self-timer. The
timer gives you a few seconds to
remove yourself from the picture and avoid camera movement while
the picture is taken.
- Set the Exposure Lock or Panorama
Lock. The first picture you take
after setting the Exposure Lock will establish the camera's exposure
level for the next picture. You will need to reset the exposure lock
for
the first picture in every pair.
- If you take pictures without
using the timer, press the shutter release
by placing your index finger on the shutter button and your opposing
thumb on the camera base. Shutter release cables are also recommended
if your camera supports them.
- Gently press down with your
finger and up with your thumb simultaneously. This action helps you
avoid applying excessive downward
pressure on the camera, rotator and tripod.
- After taking one image, grasp the
ridged grip near the top of the rotator. Gently turn the camera
clockwise so that the rotator clicks into place 180„ degrees from the
first shot.
- Gently press the shutter release
to capture the second image of the
pair. Take several pairs of the same area. Sometimes a surprise angle
turns out to be the best.
4.Export the panorama hemispherical pictures to your computer.
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