{"id":73967,"date":"2021-10-26T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-10-26T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.adorama.com\/alc\/?p=73967"},"modified":"2021-10-20T14:19:08","modified_gmt":"2021-10-20T18:19:08","slug":"10-brenizer-method-tips-for-beautiful-panoramic-stitching","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.adorama.com\/alc\/10-brenizer-method-tips-for-beautiful-panoramic-stitching\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Brenizer Method Tips for Beautiful Panoramic Stitching"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you were to map a photographer\u2019s journey from a basic point-and-shoot start to their sessions over time, you\u2019d quickly notice a common trend: photographers never stop exploring. After mastering the fundamentals (e.g., exposure triangle, lighting patterns, rules of composition, etc.), they continue to seek out new creative opportunities. The joy we get from discovering new techniques makes it worth weathering through the inevitable creative ruts and other challenges we face along the way. One technique, in particular, that inspired me along my own creative journey involves a unique take on classic panoramic stitching: The Brenizer Method.<\/p>\n

As a wedding and portrait photographer, I found Ryan Brenizer\u2019s application of panoramic photos in couple\u2019s portraits inspiring. When you see what you can do using this simple technique, you\u2019ll no doubt feel the same. To kickstart the next leg of your journey, I will serve as your guide and show you how to use the Brenizer Method of panoramic stitching to capture epic portraits.<\/p>\n

What is the Brenizer Method?<\/h2>\n

The Brenizer Method is a composite technique that captures images at a wide aperture and incorporates panoramic stitching in order to create wide angle imagery that features an extremely shallow depth of field. Wedding and portrait photographer Ryan Brenizer popularized the method by capturing unique, dramatic environmental portraits of couples during weddings and engagement sessions.<\/p>\n

\"Brenizer<\/p>\n

Like other types of panoramic photography, the Brenizer Method uses multi-row panoramic stitching to create a final image with a wider field of view than is possible to get in a single shot. While Brenizer is not the first to use panoramic stitching in his photography, his technique differs from others in its use of people as subjects and wide apertures to create almost surreal portraits.<\/p>\n

10 Brenizer Method Tips for Beautiful Panoramic Stitching<\/h2>\n
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  1. Pre-Visualize the Final Panoramic Picture<\/a><\/li>\n
  2. Shoot RAW Image Files<\/a><\/li>\n
  3. Keep It Level<\/a><\/li>\n
  4. Start with the Intended Focal Point<\/a><\/li>\n
  5. Overlap Each Image<\/a><\/li>\n
  6. Zoom In<\/a><\/li>\n
  7. Opt for Portrait\/Vertical Orientation<\/a><\/li>\n
  8. Shoot with a Wide Aperture<\/a><\/li>\n
  9. Mind the Moving Objects<\/a><\/li>\n
  10. Take a \u201cBig Picture\u201d Approach in Post<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Brenizer Method Tip #1. Pre-Visualize the Final Panoramic Picture<\/h2>\n

    \"many<\/p>\n

    Normally, when we capture an image, what we see in the viewfinder is what we get in terms of framing our shot. When we use the Brenizer Method to take a panoramic picture, however, we\u2019re capturing and stitching together multiple frames. Because of this, we need to pre-visualize our shot and figure out where we want the corners of our frames to be. Ryan Brenizer describes the process of panoramic stitching as similar to putting together a puzzle. If you don\u2019t include all of the necessary pieces for the panoramic picture, your editing software may not be able to automatically stitch the images together.<\/p>\n

    If your intention is to create an artistic final image that does not conform to the typical rectangular shape of a portrait, then you don\u2019t need to worry as much about pre-visualization. Still, planning your shot and using pre-visualization before snapping any photos will help you reach your panoramic stitching goals.<\/p>\n

    2. Shoot RAW Image Files<\/h2>\n

    \"Couple<\/p>\n

    Your digital camera likely includes options for capturing images in either RAW or JPEG file format (or both). I recommend shooting RAW files in order to give yourself more flexibility during post-production. Images created with panoramic stitching already run on the larger side of file sizes, which you might not appreciate, but the editing capabilities of using RAW files makes it worth it. Editing an already compressed JPEG file limits your ability to recover details and takes away some of your creative freedom. RAW files, on the other hand, retain tonal and color data, allowing for more consistent edits with a wider dynamic range.<\/p>\n

    3. Keep It Level<\/h2>\n

    \"Keep<\/p>\n

    When using the Brenizer Method, we need to take extra care to keep our camera level. If you have a tripod, go ahead and use it, and make sure that it is level. A tripod is not essential for using this photography method, however. Keeping a level horizon, however you achieve it, represents another way to ensure you avoid missing any \u201choles\u201d in the shot and cleanly cover the entire frame for the final stitched photo.<\/p>\n

    4. Start with the Intended Focal Point<\/h2>\n

    I highly recommend taking a systematic approach when you intend to create an image with panoramic stitching. Start with a clear focal point (e.g., your subject) in the first frame, typically in the center (but not always), and then build out from there. Because we\u2019re panning from side to side and leaving our subject in a very shallow plane of focus, we need to lock focus on our subject for the first frame and then switch our lenses to manual focus.<\/p>\n

    \"couple<\/p>\n

    After capturing my first shot, I usually start in the center and then take three additional shots moving slightly to the left. I then do the same moving from the center to the right. Next, capture a frame above your original starting point and follow the same process. Finally, capture a frame in the center again, below your starting point, and repeat the process once more. Some photographers start from the upper left corner and work their way across before starting a second row of images just below the first row. Either way, using a system like this helps ensure that you capture enough images to cover the entire scene.<\/p>\n

    5. Overlap Each Image<\/h2>\n
    <\/div>
    Panoramic Power: Two Minute Tips with David Bergman<\/div><\/div>
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