Third Point: Panorama Photos of Malibu on the iPhone 5

Third Point

Panorama Photos on The iPhone 5 or iPhone 4S

Panorama photo of the Malibu Pier and Malibu Point

October 7, 2012

by Mike Domke

View these photos in high resolution in my Shared Photo Stream.

Malibu is one of the best places in the world to view and photograph scenic panoramas that are simply stunning. A Google search reveals the fantastic depth of interest in not only taking photographs of the 27 Miles of Scenic Beauty of the Malibu coastline, but in creating a wealth of artistic impressions.

Panorama of the Malibu Beach Inn and Malibu Pier

One new tool in the quest to create amazing digital images is the Panorama mode in the new iPhone 5 Camera app.

Granted, there have been previously available tools to “stitch” together digital images into an expansively wide panorama, including existing apps on multiple smartphone platforms that do just that. What’s new is the ease with which the iPhone 5 can create one of these high quality, high resolution images.

Panorama of Corral Beach to Latigo / Point Dume sunset

The launch of the iPhone 5 brings with it a Panorama “mode” that reviewers have described with over the top adjectives like incredible, great, and even stunning.

Panorama of Malibu Beach with a long continuous wave

The fact that even the iPhone 4S can create equivalent images using the current software update (iOS 6) is a bonus, especially for those iPhone 4S owners who are going to wait for their contract expiration before upgrading to a new iPhone.

First Point: Panorama photos in Malibu

Panorama image of the Malibu Pier and Malibu Point with a small wave

My first inclination was to head down to the Malibu Pier and see what I could create in an afternoon without venturing too far into the water, maybe just up to my knees. Of course my second inclination is to shoot the coastline from a boat or from the air, but that impulse may have to wait.

Panorama captured (right to left) from Point Dume to Malibu Point

This 200+ degree panorama is 10,800 x 2,420 pixels in its original resolution

Having seen some of my examples, I’m sure you will want to try your hand at creating a “Panorama” of your favorite Malibu location.

Second Point: Using the Panorama feature

Here’s how to create a panorama on either the iPhone 5 or the iPhone 4S:

Using the iPhone “Camera” app, select the “Options” button at the top. If you own the iPhone 4S, you will have to upgrade to the newest version of iOS 6, if you haven’t already.

Then, tap the “Panorama” button, and you will see a rectangular target area with an arrow centered on a guiding line. The recording of the panorama may proceed from left to right, or from right to left by tapping the opposite side of the rectangular area.

Start the recording sweep by tapping the camera icon which is usually used to take a single photo. As you move the iPhone across your subject matter, a series of images will be captured and then stitched together to create a single “long” panorama.

It is worth noting that Apple documentation states that a panorama shot can capture about 240 degrees maximum. In addition, I found that two types of source selections may be captured: one is a pivot approach using a semicircle, and the other an elongated flatter horizontal image.

Using the Panorama mode, a wide angle image can be easily created. One example is a long line of people, as demonstrated by Apple’s video advertisement of kids saying “cheeeeeese”.

It helps to have a steady hand to keep the arrow aligned during slow movement across the target area, but some panorama images may show dark incomplete edges.

Panorama of Corral Beach with dark edges at the top

In shooting a wide panorama, I found that I needed to be prepared to smoothly pivot to maintain a level horizontal alignment. Some of my panorama photos had small dark edges, which can be cropped in edit mode right on the iPhone, or in most photo editors.

Third Point: Shared Photo Streams

Sharing your panoramas or other images with Shared Photo Streams

The panorama image may be edited like any other photo in the camera roll, or transferred to a PC, Mac, or a photo sharing service, but one new option is to create a “Shared Photo Stream” in the iCloud.

The last major update for the iPhone introduced a Photo Stream. This newest version of iOS 6 introduces the ability to create a new set of images called a “Shared” Photo Stream which can be shared with specific people or as a “Public” share.

While viewing a photo or multiple images, tap the “share” button, and then the “Photo Stream” button. From there, create a new photo stream or add your images to an existing shared photo stream.

Note that this new feature will work with photos, whether they are panorama images or standard photos, but just like the non-shared photo stream, videos are not included.

The “Shared Photo Stream” can be created with “public” or limited sharing, and has its own unique link. The newly created stream may be shared via Message, Email, Twitter, or Facebook. These photo streams are also available to view on the second and third generation of Apple TV.