Big Ben's Panorama Tutorials

Digital or Film

BUT

Spherical panoramas provide a subject with the greatest possible dynamic range and when it comes to dynamic range digital is still a long way off. Even with film it is challenging enough and there are several techniques I use to further extend the dynamic range of film.  There are techniques for extending the dynamic range of digital images and most claim to produce a greater range than is possible with film... however in many cases the same techniques can be used with film

The examples below illustrate both the tonal range possible with a colour negative film and a reasonable quality lens. I have yet to see a digital camera capable of reproducing these results with a single exposure.

	< Fine highlight detail extends right to the sun Shadow detail deep in the canyon >

Combine the wide dynamic range of a colour negative film which can typically allow over or under exposure of 2 stops without any (great) ill effect with a good quality scanner using 14 bits per channel and an extra wide colour gamut and you have the technical means of obtaining "a bloody lot of tonal detail" (the examples on this page were scanned at 8 bits per channel with a normal colour gamut so an even greater tonal range is possible!)

The typical implications of a reduced tonal range for interiors include:

• Blown out detail in windows (not overly important)
• Dark corners of rooms
• Bright flare around lights
• An increased requirement for additional lighting

	< Some detail maintained in lights Shadow detail in unlit area (and almost no flare from reflection on rail) >

To take another landscape example, lets look at a rainforest scene. This type of scene is typically a source of the greatest range of lighting conditions anywhere and maintaining detail in lighter areas usually creates large areas of dark shadow. Note that this panorama, shot below a dense cover of tree fens, appears light and open because the contrast has been balanced for the shaded area while still retaining highlight detail in the open areas next the bridge.

	< This area is lit from an opening in the forest canopy Deep in the shadows next to the tree fern on the right >
For the purposes of comparison. Here is an earlier panorama that I photographed in the same rainforest on slide film.
And then reshot later on negative film. Notice how the extra shadow detail makes the whole scene much lighter and much more even, and completely changes the feel of the image.

In the end it all comes down to what your subject matter is and what you are going to be doing with your panoramas. Digital may be quick and immediate but I'd like to see some examples to match this before I change over.