Landscape - Project 4 - Collage

I spent some time today trying to harvest images for Assignment 1. Images based around Springtime. But there is so little evidence of spring so that will have to wait. Project 4 wants images made as a collage, so the shoot today tried to make the best of a bad job and look for a suitable large pano type opportunity. That didn't work too well either. I did try one, just to master the technique, although the finished photograph is average to say the least. It didn't work at all in colour, so I have produced one in monochrome for the time being. More shooting needed and I will come back to this when there is better light.

Update April 3rd 2010

I have returned to this project after a fresh look at opportunities and some more photography.
The latest panoramic was taken with the D3 and 80-200 zoom at 155mm. ISO 200 1/40s f16 on the tripod.

The 4 images were stitched in CS3, with the usual levels adjusted , usm etc. to allow a critical view.

The first image is the unmodified 4 frame panorama. The stitching has worked well and there are no issues that need correcting with the clone tool. The view is unbalanced by the inclusion of the new farm building on the left hand side. This remark is entirely subjective and based on my perception of this scene being pastoral in a idyllic sense and the steel building is at odds therefore with the abbey and church in the distance.

The image below addresses the issue of "pastoral" by cropping out the farm building and in addition I have cropped it tighter to emphasise the panoramic composition.

Panoramic photography does not work well in the environment of the computer screen. Images need to be printed to large sizes to see the full benefit and a roll fed printer is essential.

As the opportunity arises I will come back to this project with new work, but for now this will do.

Notes for future reference.

1. Use the tripod and have reference points to allow overlap
2. Use a spirit bubble to level tripod/camera
3. Use manual exposure methods, preferably incident readings
4. Record blank frames both ends of a set to enable easier recovery on PC
5. Works better with short telephoto lens, wide angle shots difficult to stitch

General Note

1. A technique made possible by digital technology that has limited use.