Planet of Primes

Some rambling backstory first...

I read a post somewhere on the Internet about shooting a panorama or 360 degree photo, then using the Polar Coordinates filter to transform the stitched-together image into an awesome mini-planet, looking like something in Super Mario Galaxy. The examples I saw looked fantastic, but I wanted something to call my own. I tried a simple 360 degree shot in the enterance to California Adventure, but without any proper equipment, it did not turn out.

Yesterday, I finally took a lot of posed shots of my collection of Optimus Primes in a park, using a cake dolly to smoothly spin the camera to keep the shots lined up. The results are...okay. One example is posted below, and I'm working on a second, which will look about the same.

I'm going to attach screws to the cake dolly to mount my camera, and then try again, maybe in a large, empty parking lot. I'm shooting this on my Canon Powershot A570, so some options are limited. One goal I made for myself this coming year is to learn the camera inside-out, which will better justify the purchase of a entry-level DSLR before going back to WDW next Christmas.

So, has anyone tried shooting a mini-planet in any Disney park? And does anyone have advice on how to make this look better next time I try. (One thing, I shot late afternoon, so the sun ended up behind one of the Primes. Next time, I'm going to shoot at noon.)

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That's a cool effect Jeremy.

 

Thanks.

One more shot, processed with GIMP, which makes the whole thing into a square little planet.

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I have to say that I like the spherical one better. I found the polar cordinates filter a while ago and like it I need to try that effect

 

Very cool! It's been a long time since I've seen someone attempt this.

 

I tried some more at home, with a self-made circle of white poster board, but nothing turned out too great. Nothing beats a bright sunny day. Now I just need to acquire an 360 degree mount off eBay...