Panoramic Photography Learn How

Learn How...

(1) - Know your Equipment:
Study your instruction manual and run through the functions on your digital camera
until it becomes second nature. Spend the next 24/7 with your camera.

(2) - Your Digital Darkroom:
The first thing to understand is that planning and taking a photograph is only part of the process. To become a fully fledged photographer you will also need to get into the darkroom and faithfully reproduce your recollection of the scene i.e.. Print the image yourself as you visualise and remember it.

To fully understand the importance of the darkroom, in the photographic process, do some research on Ansel Adams (1902-1984). Ansel was possibly the greatest landscape photographers of last century. His dedication to the darkroom and developing innovative darkroom techniques enabled him to produce his famous images. What he can teach you will also apply to digital photography. Study Ansel Adams and the zone system.

Unfortunately Ansel Adams missed the digital age but, if he were here today, he would have embraced digital photography and the critical importance of the digital darkroom would have been just as apparent as the importance of his conventional wet darkroom. He would have been an expert in the darkroom aspects of Photoshop and his images would have been just as magnificent and just as famous.

So that's the first secret - Digital camera requires digital darkroom. And manage your print production the same as you would in a conventional wet darkroom. Test print and refine the image in terms of cropping, colour cast, density, contrast, highlight and shadow detail then test print again and refine again. Until you have it perfect in your eyes. And remember, it's not how an image looks on your computer screen. It's how it prints up for framing and display that counts.

Get stuck into Photoshop in terms of the above and you will also need to learn about masking the same as you would dodge and burn an image if using a darkroom enlarger. Check out OEM versions of Photoshop and Epson Photo printers - The 1290 will print to A3 and the 1800 is great for panoramas. Check for photoshop tutorials on the web.

(3) - Aspects of Landscape Photography:
One of the challenges for a landscape photographer is that you need to work outside generally accepted photographic protocol. In that there is no "Key Subject" to focus on. The landscape within itself, is the total subject. The object then, is to invite a viewer into your photograph, keep them there, and guide them through the entire scene. See (8), (9), (10) & (11) below.

(4) - Planning your Photograph:
For a photo to work, consideration needs to be given to many things including the basics of balance and composition. An artist, on canvas, can move things around for best advantage. A landscape photographer can't, so the play of light and shadow are critical. Choose a location then do some preliminary shots and sketches to work out the best composition. "Composition should be what is visually appealing to you and this becomes part of your individual style".... Have a look at the scene, in different lighting conditions, then choose your moment.

(5) - The Music:
The Music is the physical aspects of your photograph. The subject matter, the composition, 
the balance and the component parts. A faithful rendition of a landscape will present its' own
colour harmony and tonal balance. So these subjects are not discussed.

(6) - The Poetry:
The Poetry is the feeling or emotion that your image invokes in the viewer. In "Ominous" the scene promotes a feeling of cold foreboding and the reverse applies in "Fleeting Moments" with a feeling of softness and tranquility.

COLLECTIONS


Ominous		Fleeting Moments

(7) - Notan:
Before I take a photograph, I do a light study, over an extended period, and choose the best time to achieve a balance between light and dark - "The Notan". To check Notan convert your image to black and white and then up the contrast. The area of black should approximate the area of white. Images with a good Notan are more visually appealing and one step closer to being great. The process is shown here with "Late Surf"


Late Surf		(Notan Test)

"Invite a viewer into your photograph, keep them there, and guide them through the entire scene"

(8) - Entry Point:
Your eyes will take the easiest path into a photograph. The same starting point as if you took 
your first physical step into the scene. In"Dogs Prohibited" the entry point is the open area 
in front of the beach shower. From there your eyes take you down to the running surfer on 
a journey through the photo. In "July Weekends" the way into the image is the opening 
between the shadow and the tree branches on the left and you start your journey by walking 
with the surfers into the photograph.


		July Weekends
Dogs Prohibited

(9) -  Frames:
A good example is "Finding Diamonds". The image is framed by the rocks left and right to 
prevent your viewer from escaping.  The rocks on the right also point the viewer back into 
the photograph. In "Winter Magic" the tree branches on the right nudge you back and the 
pines plus shadows on the left keep you in the scene.


Finding Diamonds		Winter Magic

(10) - Visual Guides:
Can be lines for your eye to run along or internal pointers.
Take a look at the enlarged view of "Lovers in the Park" Enter on the path and follow the 
long converging shadows. The surfboard on the right side of the photo points you left along 
the ocean edge of the park. The artwork on the surf club leads you to the left side of the 
photo and the rock wall brings you back to the starting point to complete the loop. 
In "Summer Nights" the converging splits in the rocks take you out to the splash and moon, 
the pool edge and railing brings you back, the fence shadows take you to the viewer and 
down through the salt spray to the bright light then the far pool edge and headland takes 
you back to the large splash and the converging lines pull you back out of the photograph.



Lovers in the Park		Summer Nights

(11) - Corner Pointers: 
Any number of corner pointers will work the viewer into the scene and help hold them there.
A perfect example is "Over the Spurn" with each corner working you into the image. 
In "Street Art" the burst of  floral and the top corner and kids head on the left plus the tree 
line and bottom corner art on the right point you into the photograph. They also help to drive 
you into the far distance and involve you in the depth of the image.


Over the Spurn		Street Art

(12) - Parallel Perpendiculars:
Used by the great masters to incorporate the element of drama into their paintings and is
shown here in "The Gate Keeper". The rock and shadow line on the left and the parallel rocks 
pointing from left to right. Corner pointers are also incorporated on the right side of this image.
Also, the right edge of the rocks parallel both sides of the pool and the center rocks in 
"Australia Day" to force drama into an otherwise tranquil scene.


The Gate Keeper		Australia Day 2006

(13) - Curves:
Adds rhythm to a photograph and is shown with the sweep of the clouds and beach in 
"Northern Sky" and the ocean swells in "Pecking Order".


Norther Sky		Pecking Order

(14) - Golden Mean and Area Proportions:
Or golden section or ratio - "The Divine Proportion". A is to B as B is to C at a ratio of 1:1.618
and is shown here in "Footsteps". A is above the horizon, B below and C is image height. 
This ratio was used in ancient Greek and Roman architecture and by master artists and can 
be see throughout nature including the balance and beauty of the human face.



Footsteps

Area Proportion is similar in theory to golden mean and provides visual balance. Where a smaller area is proportional to a larger area as the larger area is proportional to the entire image. Applies to the whitewater in "Bastille Day", the clouds and whitewater in "Footsteps" above and, the pool and tidal boulders in "Last Light" below.


Bastille Day		Last Light

(15) - The Rule of Thirds:
Splits the image into vertical and horizontal thirds and provides interest and visual comfort. For example, the headland runs along the top third line in "Mermaid Pool" and the image itself is loosely split into one third sections - pines, beach and ocean in the top part of the photograph. In "The Ravages of Time" the main part of the tree is on the right third vertical and the top of the left stump is on the bottom horizontal third line.



Mermaid Pool		The Ravages of Time

(16) - Visual Links and Perspective:
I t's not just the two dimensions of width and height that make a photograph, it's also the third dimension of depth. The use of visual links can tie an image together at different levels of depth. In "Prelude" the bush and tilted tree branches on the left parallels the left section of the distant cloud bank. The headland and tree line on the right parallel the clouds on the right. This pulls the image together and perspective is accentuated by the convergence of the waves and rocks on the right and the clouds and beach on the far left. In "Rock Hoppers" the sweep of the rocks and pool link to the mirror reverse sweep of the clouds and being aware of this will suck you into the photograph.


Prelude		Rock Hoppers

Photo Rating System:
The 12 key elements to look for when rating the quality of your image are: (1) The subject matter and composition - the Music. (2) Emotion and feeing - the Poetry. (3) Notan - the balance of light and dark. (4) Entry point. (5) Visual guides. (6) Corner pointers. (7) Frames. (8) Parallel Perpendiculars - for Drama. (9) Curves - the Rhythm. (10) Golden Mean or Area Proportions for Balance. (11) The rule of thirds. (12) Visual links and Perspective.

Rate each element 1 point for good or 1/2 point for fair and 0 if it's not apparent in your image. Add up the total:

1 Point = Be bold - Delete the image
2 Points = You have taken a photograph
3 Points = It's quite a good photograph
4 Points = It's a very good photograph
5 Points = It's an exceptional photograph
6 Points = You have qualified as a photographer
7 Points = You have become a great photographer
8 Points = You will be seen as an expert in your field
9 Points = You will be accepted as a recognised master
10 Points = You are on the verge of creating a masterpiece
11 Points = You have probably created a masterpiece
12 Points = You did it....

The closest photograph I have to a 12 point image would be "Barrenjoey Dreamtime"

Barrenjoey Dreamtime		(Notan Test)


This is how I work and, if you follow these guidelines, it should improve your photographic 
ability and, just as importantly, your photographic appreciation. Most of my work falls within 
the mid range 4 to 8.

Now, you can keep all of this in mind but, there is an even higher objective....
The image, within itself, must also look natural, spontanious and effortless.

Stephen Fitzgerald
20th June 2008

e: saywhat@fitzi.com.au

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