Stretch: The World of Panoramic Photography [Hardcover]

Nick Meers (Photographer), Leo L. Larson (Introduction)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 2003

A guide to creating panoramic pictures using everything from simple 35mm and APS cameras, through to more specialized medium- and large-format cameras, right up to the 360-degree digital panoramas created using stitching programmes. It covers compositional issues (finding subjects that fit the shape and making the most of them); technical considerations (exposure measurement, avoiding flare, etc); and the various types of equipment that can be used. Much of the book is practical, but it is also illustrated with panoramic pictures. It opens with a gallery of images, and there are interviews with a selection of panoramic photographers, discussing their approach and equipment. The volume has a fun, modern look and should be useful for anyone with an interest in panoramic photography.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Nick Meers is an experienced UK-based professional panoramic photographer who has illustrated over 30 books, many of them panoramic. He has also written many articles for the photographic press. He travels widely in the US where he leads workshops. He is a member of the International Association of Panoramic Photographers.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Rotovision (February 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 288046692X
• ISBN-13: 978-2880466923
• Product Dimensions: 12 x 7.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #923,753 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fine book on an obscure topic, August 21, 2003

By 

H. Domke (New Bloomfield, MO USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Stretch: The World of Panoramic Photography (Hardcover)

This is a very helpful survey of Panoramic Photography. It covers the broad history from the earliest days of photography to today. He has portfolios from a collection of current panormaic photographers that gives a good sense of what people are up to.

There is a comprehensive discussion of panoramic cameras, including obscure hand-built models.

My only suggestions for improvement are:
1. A greatly expanded discussion of digital panorama hardware and software.
2. More careful editing of the text. It is repetitive at points and seems a bit rambling.
3. A discussion of how to mount and display these images would be helpful.

I don not agree with Barry Schmetter's review
He blames the publisher for not having a bigger, more expensive book. Panoramas are an odd shape (wierd aspect ratio) that complicates printing. I think this book works well. Wonderful color reproduction in a well-made book.

All-in-all I highly recomment this new book on Panoramic Photography.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great book, but shabby publishing, March 22, 2003

By 

Barry S. Schmetter - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Stretch: The World of Panoramic Photography (Hardcover)

Stretch is a great introduction to the field of panoramic photography. Nick Meers not only showcases some amazing examples of panoramic photography, but describes the wide variety of cameras and working techniques used to make the photographs. This is probably the best treatment of panoramic photography I've ever read and it makes me want to run out an purchase a horribly expensive panoramic camera.

Shame on Rotovision for printing an undersized version of this book on cheap paper stock more suitable for a magazine. The book would be spectacular in the larger format it deserves and on a decent paper stock. As it stands the photographs are unsatisfyingly small, the printing mediocre, and the binding suspect. Nick gets 5 stars for his efforts, but the substandard Rotovision presentation knocks off two stars with its shabby publishing job.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fabulously informative and comprehensive reference on panoramic photography, November 9, 2010

By 

MJW - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Stretch: The World of Panoramic Photography (Hardcover)

I'm often left wanting something more in a book but this one exceeded all my expectations. Having scoured the Internet for everything I could possibly find on panoramic photography this single book has it all and so much more. First, the author lists each and every panoramic camera and shows a photograph of it, organized according to flatback, swinglens and rotational styles. He gives a brief but concise description of each camera so you know exactly how it distinguishes itself from the others. But the best part of the book is the rest. Each chapter is devoted to a great panoramic photographer and the reader is informed of which camera, and often which film, was used to make the image. The tone is intimate and conversational as if we are a friend conversing with a great master photographer and are informed of little secrets about how to make a better panoramic photograph that would otherwise never be shared. What is imparted is the author's passion for panoramic photography and if you love it too, do not miss out on this book. I first borrowed this book from the library upon reading the reviews here and then immediately purchased it before I even finished the book. Oh, and the photography is breathtaking.