Re: The times sure have changed, fast!

[WILLIAM D SCHWADERER <WDAVID@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Michel,

Thank you for your comments, my thoughts follow.

> I am always surprise when people compare stiched digital (or argentic)
> images in order to made a panorama and the result of a one shot full turn
> in one time (fews seconds) with a rotational camera as well as  a LARSCAN
> system camera (Belgium) or VOYAGEUR camera from Gildas LE LOSTEC (France).
> http://perso.wanadoo.fr/panorama

I agree.  Comparing the two approaches is pointless. Each approach has
advantages and weaknesses.  These are different tools to achieve an end
which can be reached by an increasing number of routes, each exhibiting
unique side effects.  The beauty of the images Gildas Le Lostec's produces
with his Voyager camera are beyond question and beyond the capability of
general digital cameras.  I believe Alan Zinn shared an image in which a
pedestrian's watch was visible and could be read.  Simply amazing.  I am
always immensely pleased by the work they share, and the work of many others
on this list.  It is a privilege to be able to communicate directly with
you, Gildas, Alan, and others in a public forum shared by many artists.
Thank you panorama-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

> I often made pictures of crowd place, with lots of vehicles and people, I
> remember the picture of the start of a popular race with 20.000
> participants here in Brussels, I receive the autorisation to stay in the
> middle of the crowd and make a nice picture. How will work the stitching
> system in this case. Maybe can I wait all the participants are gone !!!!

Excellent point.  People movement is a problem to stitchers and to all
digital linescan problems.  On the other hand, not knowing if you captured
an image is a problem for many others.  And, many people increasingly find
digital more convenient than film for numerous reasons.  For example, if
there had been an exposure or film developing problem would the crowd still
have been there so you could reshoot the image?  I shoot crowds with digital
cameras, stitch the images together, and get acceptable results most of the
time.  But, I admit I have sometimes gotten unusable results.  But, I can
usually stitch the image on the spot it  really matters.

> Stitching photography looks like artificial imaging, return to the first
> days of panorama to 150 years back.

Sometimes it does and sometimes it does not.  But, isn't film somewhat a
return to the first days of photography? As for artificial, would you like
me to send you a panorama I captured and prepared in a few minutes of one
that I feel does not?  Caution - it is about 900 KBytes in size and is a
small version of the real.  If so, please reply directly to me offline at
wdavid@xxxxxxxxxxxx

> Photography is life and life is moving !

Often this is the case, but not always.  Look at this incredibly beautiful
image:

http://perso.wanadoo.fr/panorama/gallerie_web/gal_coupl.html

> Will be happy to ear your comments.

I believe individuals like you and Gildas are pioneers whose accomplishments
are unquestionable.  I believe you are very bright, very resourceful artists
and craftsmen, who persist until you solve all problems.  I believe you have
immense patience and apply great effort.  I believe you are very generous
and gifted people.  I know you build some of the world's finest film camera
devices.

However, the cruel truth is that you both are very rare people.  And, the
only thing you might not notice in your daily life, is that in the area of
panoramic imaging, your capabilities and accomplishments vastly exceed those
around you for whom stitching is often the better answer because it is
increasingly more accessible.  Please look at:

http://www.spinpic.com/products.htm

Thanks for you note and thanks for you fabulous book that I treasure.

---

Best regards,
W. David Schwaderer
SpinPic President and CEO

http://www.spinpic.com/
http://www.wmrs.edu/VR/Virtual.htm
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