Every now and then you find a subject you really want to photograph. And, you have the wrong lens. This was one of those times. It became a challenge to see if I could get anything, like a panorama, from this situation.
The capture
I saw this building and fire escape and wanted to capture it. There is an alley with a building that will not allow me to fill the frame with my 12mm lens. Run back to my room for the wide angle lens. Oh, no! I was on the road teaching about a commercial lens and didn’t pack it.
Back to the alley with the 12mm. Could I possibly put this together as a panorama? Back against the wall I tilt the camera up make an image. Move three steps to the right and repeat. Seven images tilted up which will reek havoc with vertical perspective but let’s see what can be done in post production.
Post production
First, a general adjustment for color and tone in Adobe Camera RAW. Following that, it’s time to use the Photomerge feature in Photoshop. From Adobe Bridge I select all images and set the Photomerge parameters. As is often the case, the Auto setting works fine with the “Blend Images Together” and the “Remove Vignette” tickboxes checked.
Transformation
Because the camera was tilted up, there’s a bit of a perspective problem. I use Transform Tool to make a correction. The lines of the windows are now straight but that leaves the door and window in the bottom looking very small. Making a selection, putting it on its own layer and transforming it separately allows for a more realistic look. A mask is used to blend this with the layer below. Repeat for a section in the middle of the building and align again using a mask.
Final tweaks
Now, on to the vision I had in my head when I initially saw this fire escape. I took the scene and turned it to a night scene with some gentle light coming from the windows. Using a LUT (Look Up Table) with the day to night setting helped bring the mood around. Add a starry sky, some Soft Light layer painting with a warm tone, and voila! A panorama pretty close to what I saw in my mind.
Yours in Creative Photography,
Bob
