GUIDE - SHOOTING
​
What Settings Should I Lock?
Everything. Imagine the batch of images you’re about to take is a single image. Any slight difference will damage the stitching process and final result. Here's a checklist for all the settings you should lock:
​
-
Focus
-
Aperture
-
Shutter speed
-
ISO Sensitivity
-
White Balance
OK, so white balance can be locked if you shoot RAW. Exposure should be set from an averagely lit part of the panorama (not a corner).
How Should I Shoot The Sequence of Images For The Panorama?
A zig-zag motion works well. For example – starting from the bottom left (of the image you want to build up) and moving right, in horizontal strips, until you hit the bottom right corner, then move up one row and return in the opposite direction… and so on, until you’re done.
​
How Should I Rotate The Camera While Shooting?
-
Plant your feet in a position that gives you good balance
-
pivot around the lenses ‘entrance pupil‘ for this rotation (Not your hips)*
​
* I started off doing this technique with a DSLR where I had to move myself around the camera so that I could see through the viewfinder (to align the frame overlap). This looks weird and is annoying! If you have a mirrorless camera then use the rear screen, it's much easier. If you have a DSLR with live view that also works, you won't need AF anyway. Either way you’ll have to move less and it'll allow you to keep the rotation pivot constant with greater accuracy.
​
What Orientation Should I Shoot In?
There is no hard rule for this, but I have found that shooting in portrait gives me better results. This is probably due to the horizontal movement and trying to perceive the best overlap, but I’m not quite sure. If this feels really uncomfortable to you then I say switch to the alternative, whatever feels right, just keep in mind that the other method might end up stitching more accurately for some weird reason.
​
How Much Should I Overlap The Frames?
I would recommend aiming for 1/2 frame overlap. It might seem like overkill, but remember than any slight slip could reduce this amount and the stitching software needs matching elements to align the images later on. If you get really good at this you could aim for 1/3, but much more than that and your stitch will fail.
​