If Renoir Shot Panoramics "Gathering in the fog"

USA-Canada / USA-Illinois

Lat: 41° 43' 21.17" N
Long: 88° 48' 8.28" W

Elevation: 607

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Precision is: High. Pinpoints the exact spot.

Hardware: Canon 20D, Sigma Fisheye, Agnos pano head, Manfrotto leveling head and tripod, remote trigger for 20D.

Software: Photoshop SE2, Pano2QTVR, PTgui.

Originally I had intended to use aviation as my theme. I went as far as shooting numerous images at the Palwaukee Airport Flight School in Prospect Heights, IL (renamed to Chicago Executive Airport, even though it’s a good hour from Chicago!) I was really happy with the results – one image captured small aircraft parked, one taking off and another in the air. That was my “keeper.” I was working on the pano at my girlfriend’s house (my PC had crashed) and had to head home to feed my dog. I walked out the front door into a fog bank, back-lit by park lights and houses. Wow! That was atmosphere.

I headed out to the park, feet sinking in the squishy earth. I had wanted to shoot almost against a tree trunk, but there was too much moisture dripping from the branches. Fat, heavy drops were constantly falling – cameras and water do not a happy combination make! So I captured panoramics from several different spots, all within 30 feet. Mainly I was moving so lights were positioned differently – behind the trees, between, etc. I shot each pano at 1 second, 5 seconds, 8 seconds and 10 seconds.

After I stitched the images I selected the best shot and started tinkering with the exposure, filters, etc. The 5 second exposure has the coolest look. I started with the different effects filters and tried the Fresco effect. That was exactly what I was looking for. I added the people later as I felt it added a little more edge to the final result.