PROJECT: SHOOT A STUNNING PANORAMIC LANDSCAPE
Source the right kit to do justice to epic scenic vistas
Some vast scenes don’t suit a conventional aspect ratio, so a wider, more cinematic one could work better. Many smartphones have a panoramic photo mode, but the image quality will fall short of a DSLR or mirrorless camera, especially if you want to create professional prints or edit the raw files.
The best way to capture panoramas is with your camera shooting vertically – start at the left-most edge of your scene and work from left to right. Be sure to shoot raw files and use Aperture Priority mode to begin, choosing an aperture of f/16 for good sharpness throughout the scene, then adjust the ISO until you have a shutter speed of 1/200 sec – fast enough for shooting handheld if you don’t have a tripod. Then go into Manual to lock off those settings so that the exposures don’t change between frames, as this will help the tones in each frame stitch together seamlessly.
Now, focus a third of the way into the scene and switch to manual focus so the focus is also consistent in each frame; this will also help with the stitching process. Shoot in the vertical orientation and make sure each shot overlaps by at least 30%. Take note of where the horizon is in each frame and make sure this lines up with the last one so your panorama is straight. It’s also worth taking a picture of your hand at the start and end of your panorama so it’s easy to find when editing your shots back home. If you want to take your panoramic landscapes more seriously, you should also consider a panoramic head (opposite).