Sony Digital Cameras and Landscape Photographs

by Ralpapajan

A short article to show how I managed to use a Sony W30 Point and Shoot Camera to take Landscape Photographs. Some of the FREE Panoramic Software available on the web.

Simple Landscape photography

This may be accomplished using a Point and Shoot Camera, a steady hand and Free Software

I bought my tiny Sony Cybershot W30 Point and Shoot Camera just prior to going to Belize for the first time.  That was in February 2007 and I didn't even take my battery charger along in the belief that the 300 high definition photographs that the manual said I could take on one charge would be more than enough.  It wasn't.  I took a lot more than that.  It was during that trip that my love of photography that had been dormant for some years was re-kindled.  

I was flying over Caye Caulker and took several photographs of the caye through the plane window.  The pilot obligingly flew low-level for me.  

This one was the first (accidental) panoramic photo I ever took.  I didn't spot it until I saw the uploaded photos on Picasa Web Albums.

So I decided to start taking them deliberately.

The first program I used was The ClevR Stitcher and this worked well and was easy to use.

Here is a photograph taken in Belize during 2008 near San Jose Succotz in the Cayo District a mile or so from Xunantunich, the Mayan Citadel and Centre.

The Mopan River near the Ferry, San Jose Succotz, Cayo District, Belize CA.

 

 

 

 

I worked with ClevR until a friend from Okinawa, Japan introduced me to Autostitch.  This I find very easy to use as you can see below.  If you have an IPhone this could be the software for you. Here is an example.

A view of Naha Palace, Okinawa, Japan, taken from the Summer Palace.

 

 

 

 

So how do you take these photos?  It is simple but requires practise.  

Step 1: Select a view that is too big for one frame to do it justice.

Step 2: Select the Landscape Function on the Menu.

Step 3: Focus on the left hand point you want to include ~ taking note of a dominant feature to the right of the picture.

Step 4: Take the photograph.

Step 5: Allow the image to form. And then move the focus to the right so that the selected feature is now at the left and take another photo.

Step 6: Repeat until you have covered the scene.  A minimum of three, I found is best for the Point and Shoots.

Holding the camera steady.  I find that using the viewfinder is easier rather than the display panel, when taking photos without an aid.

Other aids to holding the camera steadily.

The best - A Tripod.

Next - a monopod that has been secured firmly.

Lastly, depending on situation - a Bean Bag.

During October last year ~ 2010 ~ I decided to upgrade my camera and bought a Sony a390 and this added a whole new dimension to my Panorama attempts.  More about that later on.

I also looked at Serif Panorama Plus and use this the most.  However, another free trial download of choice would be AcroPano and this is well worth looking at.

I will also be posting an article about using Sony's Sweep Panorama System and showing examples of photos taken in Malta.

 

 

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5V 10.2 MP CMOS 10x Wide-Angle Zoom Digital Camera with Optical Steady ...

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Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX9V 16.2 MP Exmor R CMOS Digital Still Camera with 16x Optical Zoom G ...

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Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-HX100V 16.2 MP Exmor R CMOS Digital Still Camera with Carl Zeiss Vario ...

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Only $135.0
Sony A390 Digital SLR Camera (Black)

The Sony α390 DSLR camera brings you the freedom of Live View, which lets you compose and shoot photos using a tiltable 2.7" (diag.) LCD screen. SteadyShot INSIDE in-camera ...

Only $258.0
Sony DSLR Alpha DSLR-A390L 14.2MP Digital Camera & 18-55 Lens + 4GB Kit

Catch life from any angle with the Sony A390 digital SLR camera featuring Live View, which lets you compose shots via a tiltable 2.7" LCD screen. The A390 DSLR camera also ...

The Blue Pod - Camera Platform

The blue pod is a camera platform designed for cameras or camcorders that feature off-center tripod mounts. THE pod can be set-up virtually anywhere. When you can't use a ...

$18.00  $8.49
Updated: 08/30/2011, Ralpapajan
 
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Should you wish me to answer any SIMPLE questions about Panorama Techniques using the old style ~ without Sweep Panorama ~ Sony Point and Shoot Cameras please feel free to ask.

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Ralpapajan on 10/30/2012

Yes thomo85 the Panorama is a great idea. My latest camera has a 'sweep' facility and it makes quite a difference.

Ralpapajan on 10/30/2012

Yes thomo85 the Panorama is a great idea. My latest camera has a 'sweep' facility and it makes quite a difference.

Holistic_Health on 09/05/2011

Thanks for the tips. My pics are notoriously horrid.


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