So yeah, after looking at this site:
http://zuzutop.com/2009/07/polar-panorama-...ching-examples/

I think they're really awesome, and I've been doing some experimenting, just looking for tips. All the examples on that site have centers that aren't distorted. Does anyone know how to do this?

Here are attempts one and two:

my yard


A street in my neighborhood (no tripod = terrible stitching, sorry about that)


So yeah, can anyone offer advice?

I've only tried this once, but I had the same problem. Some of those in the link have the distortion too, but I'm really not sure how the others seam together so perfectly in the middle. If you figure it out, lemme know.

Might find a clue here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jftphotograph...57600232700728/
I think my problem might have been that I was doing a pano using landscape shots... will try verticals next time with my 10-20mm and stitching in PS.

Haha, will do. Thanks for the link. I really need to work on stitching - I've only used photoshop for like, two days now, but I'm having trouble figuring out how to do a good job. Then again, it's a pretty old version of photoshop (4.0).

okay, here's a much better attempt.

clear-cut world in the oregon coast range:



It worked way better than the others, but there's still the distortion problem. I think the real secret to these is having a fish-eye lens. That way you can get all the foreground and enough sky in one vertical shot. I've tried doing multiple shots stacked on top of each other to get the needed height, but the stitching just doesn't work. I might try renting a fish-eye to see if they really work better; if I do I'll post the results.

Just make sure not to catch your feet in the shots. Or clone them out really well.

I'll do my best.

I did notice in this one you can see the photographer's shadow.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jftphotograph...670753/sizes/l/

or use a tripod

strangely, the tutorials I've read say not to. I have been anyway, dunno...

nice phone lines

Yeah, they suck, but better than my very first tries!

yeah, stitching job was pretty nice for this kinda stuff.


hmmm...oddly, being the person accused of enjoying PP work too much, i haven't tried this.

It gets a little frustrating. I tried using that Hugin program suggested in the flickr link I posted earlier in this thread, but that thing doesn't seem to want to work too well... so I did these in photochop and tried to clone the center and around the edges as best I could. I think I'm going to try to do one of these comprised of three panos: sky, horizon, and ground all merged together..... *sigh* I always make more work for myself.

Oh, and Jamie, blue skies make it a whole lot easier! Also, probably when the sun is at it's peak.

even with the phone lines, those are very nice. The ground looks pretty good to me! I'm tempted to rent a fisheye how it works. (edit- just realized I already said that. Oh well, I'm still thinking about it. )