Panoramic photography of historic houses

I love photographing old historic houses; it may be fraught with difficulty but well worth the effort. They often present the photographer with a wealth of textures and a richness of detail unparalleled in modern interiors. They also present a number of challenges.

Permission to create panoramic photographs – please!
One of the main issues is to get permission. Good panoramic photography just can't be done whilst the custodian is looking away. To obtain permission it's important to present a credible 'project'. What are you hoping to achieve? How will the images be used? What's in it for the house?
 

You must also come across as a serious photographer. Ensure you show examples of other work you have created and supply references. This shouldn't put the new comer to photography off - an honest explanation of intentions to create a portfolio, or practise skills etc. is often meet with a willingness to help. Ensure you research the property's history and can work within the constraints of the house 'as is'. A request for a permission followed by a list of 'demands' rarely goes down well.

The trouble with panoramic photography in Historic Houses
Historic houses are often museums, they hold valuable collections that must be cared for and protected and they are open to the general public. This may require you to work in low level light conditions, within barriers and with the risk of people getting in your way.

Research the property before the day of the shoot. Get a clear idea of the shots you want, so you don't spend too much time setting up in the 'wrong' location. Talk to staff about busy periods so you can avoid those. Travel light and agree an area where you can safely 'dump' your things. Take out public liability insurance!

The crucial bit is to get the first images done although they may not be perfect due to restrictions imposed on you. But, you will soon find a willingness to 'extend' your permission if you supply the House with images they can utilise on their website or in brochures.

• Do your research
• Get permission
• Avoid busy periods
• 'Travel light'
• Take out public liability insurance
• Give something back

Panoramic Photography for Micro-stock

Panoramic photography tend not to do well on micro-stock sites. As they are often very wide they display poorly as a thumbnails and can be difficult to utilise in print and web that adheres to conventional dimensions. A traditional panoramic image will appear like a slim banner in most page layouts.

Section of 360 panoramic image

Micro-stock photography is all about mass-utilisation, successful panoramic images will have to adapt to the market. Either by playing to its strength as a slim banner or by not being 'very panoramic'

Panoramic images can be square
Very appealing and striking images can be made by using different projections when stitching panoramas. Some effects may be too extreme but used creatively they can enhance the message the image conveys.

The farm is a small universe

Think about the projection sometimes referred to as 'little planet'. It immediately conjures up ideas of self-containment. The subject becomes a universe in its own right. A panoramic of a farm is no longer just 'the farm' but the farm as a small self-contained universe.

Panoramic wide angle view of building and garden

But there are plenty of other creative possibilities creating extreme wide angle views in a 3:4 / 2:3 format and the possibility of making very high resolution photographs with smaller SLRs.