History of Panoramic Photography

Panoramic Photography is a technique used by a few select photographers. Specific equipment and software is used to get the full effect of this photographic technique. The reason this method of capturing urban environments and rural landscapes has become such a sort after technique is because when we take a normal one frame photograph, we cut out much of the picture and perhaps in some cases the most important part. In having to crop the photograph we do not get the entire story within the picture itself. So by taking a landscape in a 360 degree view it gives us a very honest medium, it is almost how we would experience it in real life and more as the field of view will be beyond what the human eye is capable of taking in.

In 1851 the first Panoramic sequence was taken, its was produced by Martin Behrmanx and believed to contain around 11 plates in total, however only five are still in existence. The sequence shows San Francisco from Rico hill. The process in which these panoramic sequences were made was very different to how we would do it today. In order to produce a sequence artists used a process called Daguerreotype, this was the first process in which photographs were produced. It was initially developed by a Louis Daguerre.

As you can see below this is very different to how a modern day panoramic would look. They did not have the technology, however, this is an excellent sample; we can see that the lighting differs from section to section and there is blurring, however for what was available at the time it was a super example and is what began this very unique technique.

Produced by Martin Behrmanx, San Francisco from Rico hill

I have researched a wide variety of images, and a selection of different photographers all of whom have a very specific outlook on how they wish their work to be portrayed. For example Bundhowi’s images are very much religion based and are very symbolic of his chosen subject area; they each portray a message and have a story within them. The meaning/vibes that his images give off to his audience is one of ‘universal humanity and spirituality’ he likes to be known for being a ‘peace photographer’.

This Image is amongst one of my very favourite, for many reasons; the first being that the picture in predominately in black and white apart from three Buddha’s in the bottom right hand of the frame. These three men are a real focal point of this image, Bundhowi has made their robes the brightest colour in the picture so there for what the eye is drawn to the most. Once we look beyond the men, we see the serene rural landscape which the men are observing. The water in the foreground, the jagged lines of the mountains, the lingering fog and the moon all attribute to tranquil, dramatic atmosphere. The technical side to this photo however is hard to distinguish where his faults may be as the background is fairly naturally blurred due the weather so his joins are invisible. Never the less this is a tremendous image and very thought provoking.

http://www.bundhowi.com/

Quite on the contrary Nick Wood is another inspiring panoramic photographer. He has done a project where he has photographed London is 360, he explains in his book that he wanted to capture the ‘richness’, ‘diversity’ and ‘history’ of London. The picture I have selected below is very rich in colour, the blue of the sky reflected in the river and the golden yellow lights on the bridge, all give a real sense of richness. The reflections of the bridge and buildings in the water are almost an exact mirror image; the bridge itself in fact is part of London’s history.

These pictures couldn’t be more different to look at however they are both showing different worlds, one very built up showing man made structures and the other natural structures however both are landscapes.

http://www.nickwoodphoto.com/