Been meaning to ask if that picture was a composite and stitched together? I see on the page the specs show that it's shot at 16mm. Was it that wide to capture the entire Canyon/valley? Either way it looks gorgeous on my giant 32" 4k monitor.
Cool, man.....glad it looks good on that 4K. I have a 29"" curved monitor (though just 1080), and those panos look spendid on full screen.
To answer your first question.....yes....and no. It IS a composite and it is stitched together. However, it was all done in camera. Most commonly, panos are done in post processing with a series of conventional sized photos...with often mixed results (ha, ha). But the Sony cameras have the Sweep Panorama mode, and most times it works well if you can move the camera at a consistent pace (and level) across the field of view. They have this feature on most of their mirrorless line of cameras...going back several years/models. I have an NEX 6 that only cost me $250 used (but with very low shutter count) that features this mode, but this particular shot was done with the A6000 and 16-50, practically pancake, kit lens. I paid about $700 new for the whole kit and kaboodle (pun intended).....including the 55-210 zoom as well (smoking deal
). It's really an astonishing feature....and the best part is----no stitching necessary by the photographer later.
So the 16mm is just the widest setting on the lens....so that is how it's showed in the EXIF. Obviously it's much wider in the context of the entire scene....without the barrel distortion that comes from an often considerably more expensive, super wide/fish eye prime lens. Although, yes....the extra "width" on the pano here is just that...wider on the horizon. A wider angle lens will capture the vertical larger as well. And no, it's not National Geographic quality. But considering you can buy this lens for about $100 on Ebay, it's a tremendous value. Plus, these are just JPEG's, so not a gigantic file size like a RAW would yield.
Now, I say there was no post processing, and there wasn't on the stitching. I do, however....have a series of level adjustments I make in post processing on most every photo I take. The A6000 puts out quite decent photos with in-camera processing, but I like to tweak just enough to capture the scene....as much like I witnessed it in person as possible. I do not do "photoshopping"....beyond cloning out some lens flares or sensor spots. Most I might do to alter (more than just minor level adjustments) is apply an HDR filter (post processing)....and then I always share that info in the spirit of transparency (pun NOT intended!). Then, yes....I do add the frames and watermarks/titles. So there is altering in that regard. But typically nothing to change the overall integrity of the scene. An exception might be the mind bending shot I took with the reflection in the water, but really....it is merely (or in this case "mirrorly"
) flipped 180. So it creates the effect of something shopped, without going there.
And so, yes....to capture the entire (well.....a mighty portion therein) span....of this part of....the canyon/valley. It's such an amazing place, but....this is just the amphitheater....the vast majority of the park is not in this scene.
I try to put the viewer vicariously in my shoes, but there's really no substitute for experiencing this in person. You will be in awe. In lieu of that.....I will have a photo to share in a few days that shows more of the lower parts of the amphitheater....and at sunrise. I think you will find it also separating you from your oxygen.
Topic: Seriously Cool Pictures (Read 58434 times)
