Thanks for the comments, David. I have tried using a driver and it doesn't seem to have the same bite, the pictures just don't seem to be as good. I do try to be careful, and definitely keep my eyes on the road. I'm also thinking about a single camera fixture, some sort of a gooseneck so that I could point the camera in different directions and just leave it there till the decisive moment arrives. It's interesting to what extent you can learn to frame shots, even when your control consists of pointing in the general direction anticipating the camera lag and pressing. >"Alan P. Hayes" <ahayes@berkshire.rr.com> writes: > >> As part of my death-defying pursuit of pictures from cars in motion I >> have for some time wanted to be able to take action panoramas while >> driving. >> >> I think I may have hit on a semi-safe way to do this. I'd like to run >> my idea by the camera mechanics on the list. > >While I'd like you to stay safe, I consider it *important* that you do >it without putting *other* drivers on the road at risk, so I'm happy >you're thinking about the safety implications! > >> It's fairly simple actually. I'm thinking of mounting 3 or 4 digital >> cameras so that they would encompass a wide angle of view, shooting >> them all off at once and then combining the images in photoshop. >> >> It would be nice to use Nikon D1s but until I get my grant I figure on >> using 25 dollar digicams (there are such things!). >> >> I've thought of a few possible difficulties. Any comments on them or >> anything else that occurs to anybody would be gratefully received. >> >> I anticipate mounting the cameras on some sort of semicircular >> rail. This would give me some flexibility in terms of positioning >> them. I understand that this sort of geometry might result in some >> sort of parallax issues. I think these are likely to be at a level >> that I can deal with post-exposure, judging from the results I've been >> able to get combining even hand held images (satisfactory to me). > >My experience, using Panorama Factory, with hand-held exposures is >quite satisfactory indeed. I don't think you're in special trouble on >that front. > >I don't have anything to contribute on how to trigger them. As you >say, a $25 camera could be sacrificed to science, and there probably >*is* some way to wire up an electronic release. > >Of course, having a second person drive, while you control the >cameras, might produce better results, and/or a safer trip. >-- >David Dyer-Bennet, dd-b@dd-b.net / New TMDA anti-spam in test > John Dyer-Bennet 1915-2002 Memorial Site http://john.dyer-bennet.net > Book log: http://www.dd-b.net/dd-b/Ouroboros/booknotes/ > New Dragaera mailing lists, see http://dragaera.info -- Alan P. Hayes Meaning and Form: Writing, Editing and Document Design Pittsfield, Massachusetts
