Panoramics

A Unique Perspective

Dunedin, New Zealand: Dunedin Railway Station. The panoramic setting allows us to capture the beauty of the architecture and the gardens in one image.

Panoramic mode is a powerful tool for capturing expansive scenes, towering structures, or creative abstract images.

Brugge, Belgium: A modest artist’s gallery comes alive in the panoramic above, showcasing not only the beautiful work but the charm of the space itself with warm woods and distinctive windows.

Dunedin, New Zealand: In this image we wanted to draw attention to the gates as a welcoming element to the First Church of Otago. By electing to create a panoramic while positioned in front of the gates we did exactly that!

The way you move your arms while taking a panorama affects the final result—a smooth, steady motion creates a seamless image, while tilting, curving, or moving unevenly can introduce distortions that can be used creatively.

Bratislava, Slovakia: On the corner of Rybárska brána and Bratislava's main square (Hlavné námestie) stands this welcoming bronze statue called Schöner Naci (the Handsome Ignatius). This panoramic highlights the main feature but still celebrates the architecture and feeling of the street itself.

London England: The unique architecture of the Tower Bridge is highlighted with the use of panoramic view. In one panoramic shot, the image below, we captured a standard wide view; however, in the image above we started the pan with a specific focal point—the red and white dot. The bold red of the dot is echoed beautifully by a red double-decker bus crossing the bridge, creating a subtle yet striking visual connection.

Most people use it in horizontal mode to sweep across landscapes, city skylines, or large group shots, but it can also be used vertically to capture tall buildings, waterfalls, or trees that wouldn’t fit in a standard frame.

London England: A vertical panoramic distorts line of the bridge for this completely unique image.

Before & After

Osaka, Japan: Although the original image effectively captures the store front with giant octopus, the panoramic immerses the viewer in the Shinsekai, a wild district in Osaka where nothing is along this vibrant street is subtle!

Auckland, New Zealand: Te Komititanga, Auckland's premier public square, houses this beautiful holiday display during the season. The grand scale of the tree is highlighted with this panoramic image.

Short Panoramic

Venice, Italy: One of the entrances to the Palazzo Ducale (Doge’s Palace) is made to look almost surreal with out short vertical panoramic image. We distorted the walls slightly and the high key lighting in the windows adds to the dreamlike quality.

Remember, panoramic photos don’t have to stretch across a whole skyline or be very long at all. Even a small sweep—side to side or up and down—can lead to some really interesting results. And if the final image feels a little too wide or awkward? No worries! You can always crop it afterward to create a more balanced, easy-to-share frame.

Abstracts

Experimenting with intentional movement, such as twisting your wrist or changing angles mid-pan, can produce surreal, stretched, or abstract effects, transforming ordinary scenes into unique works of art. Whether used for realism or creativity, panoramic mode expands your ability to capture the world in new and exciting ways.

New Zealand: The scene above was captured using panoramic mode. The location is the famous filming site of The Lord of the Rings. To achieve this shot, we traced a wide arc from left to right, repeating the motion several times until this image stood out as the winner.

Tips for Capturing Stunning Panoramic Photos with Your Smartphone

🌄 Choose the Right Scene – Panoramic mode is perfect for sweeping landscapes, city skylines, and large architectural structures. Cluttered or overly busy environments may or may not translate well into a long-format image.

📱Keep Your Hands Steady or Move Deliberately – Move your phone smoothly and slowly in a straight line while following the on-screen guide to prevent distortions or uneven stitching. In contrast, move deliberately in an arch (😊 smile or ☹️ frown) or “S” like pattern to create abstract art.

↔️↕️You don’t have to do a huge sweep to use panoramic mode—short pans often work even better! A smaller pano is easier to post, frame, and enjoy. Sometimes, just a little movement up, down, or side to side is all it takes. Once you tap the shutter, your phone will expect some motion to create the image—so give it a gentle glide and wrap it up when you're happy!

📷Use a Tripod for Precision – A tripod with a phone mount helps maintain a level horizon and smoother movement, especially in low-light conditions.

➡️Follow the Arrows – On most smartphones, the panoramic mode will display a guiding arrow or line—stay aligned with it for the best results.

🔄 Experiment with Vertical Panoramas – Panoramic mode isn’t just for wide shots! Flip your phone and move upward to capture tall buildings, waterfalls, or massive trees in their full height.

🏃‍♂️ Avoid Moving Objects – People, cars, or waves can create ghosting effects in a panorama if they move while you're capturing the image. Choose a scene with little to no movement for a cleaner result.

🎯 Start and End with Interesting Elements – Frame your shot so that both the beginning and the end have engaging subjects to maintain balance in the final composition.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Use Panoramic Mode for Group Photos – If you’re trying to fit a large group of people into one shot, pan slowly to include everyone without squishing them together.

☀️Watch for Exposure Changes – If part of your panorama is much brighter than another, your phone might struggle to adjust. Try tapping on an area with balanced lighting before you start.

✂️ Edit to Refine – Crop out unwanted distortions or straighten the horizon in post-editing to ensure a polished final image.

With a steady hand, good lighting, and the right framing, panoramic mode can transform expansive scenes into breathtaking, immersive photos!

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