Moto Photo: The Pano iPhone Panoramic Photo App

My iPhone is like nerd crack. It’s always in my pocket, even the one on my motorcycle jacket.

I shamelessly noted before that one of the only reasons I got an iPhone was for the Hipstamatic app. In the 6 months that I’ve had the phone now I’ve accumulated quite a few other camera apps as well. One of the more recent purchases was Pano.

Pano allows you to stitch together photos to create a panoramic image right on your phone. With minimal patience, you can put together a kick-ass panorama.

You have to be mindful of lining up the image on the screen when you’re shooting or you are susceptible to defying the laws of physics with your photo. At first you might not notice these types of anomalies. But even when you do – they just might not bother you that much.

You can see the light bending at the stitch points:

Fuzzygalore in Poquott -  Setauket Harbor

In this pic on the left, you can see the ghost edge of the tree branches:

Even with their (user) errors, I still like the pictures.

Soth at Steady on the Humble has a new masthead image of his bicycle in the snow on the Brooklyn Bridge which was shot with Pano. Can I get an amen for how great this pic is?

In the last few months I’ve taken hundreds of photos. In that same period of time, I’ve made about 15 phone calls. I almost wish this device was called something other than a “phone”.

Do you use your phone to take photos when out on the bike or are you a die hard digital camera user?

Fuzzygalore

Rachael is the whimsical writer behind the 20+ year old Girlie Motorcycle Blog. As a freelance blogger, she is on a mission to inspire laughter, self-examination, curiosity, and human connection. Girlie Motorcycle Blog can be found on several Best Motorcycle Blog lists.

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12 Responses

  1. Anthony says:

    The iPhone ROCKS!!! I couldn’t live without mine, and like you its always with me on the bike and everywhere else that I go. I’ll be downloading that Pano app today – the photos you posted look great….

    I use the iPhone for photos when out and about because its easier, (and I always have it) The digital camera is usually zip-tied to the bike somewhere for filming video…..

    have an awesome day.

  2. ToadMama says:

    Amen on Soth’s image. I’m a die-hard digital camera user. I never leave home without one. Well, rarely. Hubby’s been egging me on to buy an iPhone or something similar. We’ll see. Your images are awesome, even with the bent light.

  3. SonjaM says:

    Makes me want to have an iPhone, but professionally I am stuck with the Blackberry. That’s why I bring my digital camera along all the time.

  4. RichardM says:

    The iPhone is with me just about all the time and the camera gets used often. For the last couple of years the only cameras I’ve used is the iPhone and a Nikon DSLR. No more point-and-shoot cameras for me. I have been using the Autostitch app for panos. It requires careful control of the exposure control to ensure that all of the stitched images are exposed consistently.

    • Fuzzygalore says:

      I’m pretty much like you, RichardM. I always have my dslr in my bag/purse/tailbag – but sometimes I just don’t feel like pulling it out. I haven’t seen Autostich. I’ll have to take a look.

      I had a Blackberry for a long time, Sonja. It was great for work email. But not much else. As a utility tool – it’s perfect. When you want to have some fun.. that’s when the droid, iphone etc. come calling~ I know that feeling.

      Looks like we’re all a bunch of iphone junkies!

      Kari- You’re right. The cameras on phones have come such a long way. Canon’s Gx’s are great cameras 🙂

      Thanks for the tip on bending the time/space continuum, Chris 😆

      Arc – you need to post more of your Hipsta pics. I love the Melody lens.

  5. soth says:

    At first, I resisted the Iphone because I felt like I’ve given Mr. Jobs way too much of my money already what with the laptops, desktops and countless ipods.

    Now that I’m on my 4th Iphone (I break stuff) I’m VERY attached to it. Shoot, I even tried going back to regular phone but that lasted all of 1 week because I was too lazy to carry around a book or 3, an Ipod, and a camera. My Iphone is all those things and way more!

    I think I may even mentioned to you last time I saw you that I don’t even bother carrying around either of my digital cameras anymore. In fact, if I do feel the need to carry a camera, I may break out my slr and process the film in my basement 🙂

  6. Judy LaParne says:

    I think I would shrivle up and die without my iPhone! With these new photo apps, I may just have to figure out how to strap it to my arm permanently. I might need an intervention….

  7. Kari says:

    Digital camera for me. My canon G11 is always with me, unless I have the dslr. I’ve taken pictures with my phone, but haven’t figured out how to get them off the phone!

    Phones now have more resolution than my first digital camera. I’m not sure what I think of that!

  8. Arc says:

    Unless it’s an official ride for like a week or so the G9 stays at home as the iPhone is that good. Hipstamatic? I love playing with film, lens and flash combos. I’ve bought every pack you can buy in that app. It’s really funny though it has made me break out my pops old Canon F1 and start shooting film again.

    So Soth, we’re on the same page. Just picked up a box of film goodies for my new kitchen/darkroom. Thought it be funny to take a pic of it all with hipstamatic http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5256/5404339843_f5cd38f9b5.jpg

  9. chornbe says:

    Fuzz, Great stuff.

    Thanks for the tip on that app. I’ll check it out.

    You can minimize the image bending in that first pic by using the phone as the rotational pivot point, rather than using your body as the pivot point. Walk in an arc as you pivot the phone and that effect will be lessened. http://www.kodak.com/eknec/documents/71/0900688a8090c671/seams_diagram_image.gif

  10. GLantern says:

    For everyday use I use my droid for all my pictures but if i’m going out for a night or going on a ride my digital camera takes priority. The main reason for me is when i’m out and about snapping pics it is usually in less then ideal conditions that would break a phone. I have an olympus shock/water proof camera which I can take surfing, snowboarding, mtn biking, motorcycling etc etc. without the fear of breaking it in two.

    Even then if I had a nice camera I would still pic that over my phone I just like having something dedicated to taking pics.

  1. January 30, 2011

    […] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Motorcycle Stuff, Burning Eagle . Burning Eagle said: Moto Photo: The Pano iPhone Photo App: My iPhone is like nerd crack. It’s always in my poc… http://bit.ly/hxzKEf #motorcycles arecool […]

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