Mirrorball panoramas – a first try

I have been experimenting with panoramic photographs taken with a mirrorball:

mirrorball panoramaThis panorama was taken using a cheap mirrorball that is sold as a garden ornament. I bought it just to experiment with this kind of photography. Unfortunately, the ball was too cheap with too many distortions that made the process difficult and the result poor. However, it provided me with a little experience in the technique at a low cost so I can now look out for a better quality ball.

The above image was composed from two photos taken from opposite sides of the ball – you can see the camera twice in the above image. An original image, as taken by the camera is below:

original mirrorball imageWhen this is unwrapped it looks like this:

unwrpped mirrorballSurprisingly, one shot of the ball provides nearly a 360° view; directly opposite the camera, at the edges, the image pinches down to a point.

Larger version of these, along with a view taken in the garden, can be seen in the testing techniques area of the panorama gallery.

Author: Paul L. G. Morris

I am a freelance photographer whose distinguishing feature is that I am prepared to photograph the unusual and the overlooked. Having had many years of experience pursuing the creative art of photography, coupled with more recent experience as a portrait photographer and garden photographer, I now work professionally through my business: PM Studios Ltd.