should raise his head from cover only long enough to make his exposure and should
raise his camera only at irregular intervals. A change in camera position might
prove necessary, but prints will not match well on a swing panoramic should the
photographer be forced to change locations.
h. With all the disadvantages of shooting and assembling panoramics, the
Army continues to consider them one of the more important aspects of photography.
The reason behind this lies in the many uses to which panoramics are put by the
military.
Some of these include: spotting enemy positions; map identification
and orientation; liaison with adjacent units; terrain identification for assault
troops; observing terrain changes caused by enemy construction, new emplacements,
seasonal variations and damage caused by friendly action.
i. The panoramic is one of the most used techniques in tactical ground
photography.
6.
Proper Use of a Tripod.
The correct use of the tripod plays an important
role in obtaining a good panoramic. Applying the following procedures in using a
tripod can help in obtaining the best of results.
a. Check the tripod.
(1) Legs slide freely.
(2) Legs lock properly.
(3) Legs spread and can be extended fully.
b. Attach camera with tripod legs fully extended and spread; tripod should
hold about 10 pounds of weight.
(1) Position tripod in center of area to be photographed.
(2) Ensure tripod is level and camera is level on tripod.
(3) View area through the viewfinder or ground glass of camera.
7.
Tripod Adapter. When shooting panoramics, especially with a camera that has
a bellows, such as the 4 by 5-inch view camera, it is important to use an adapter
on the tripod. This adapter, (fig 1-7), allows the optical center of the lens to
remain directly over the rotating axis of the tripod.
You cannot obtain a
matched panoramic unless the optical center of the lens remains over the rotating
axis of the tripod.
The adapter should be made from metal stock.
A hole is
drilled to accept the tripod screw instead of the camera.
It is necessary to
obtain an additional tripod screw to attach the extra tripod screw. The camera
can be moved back and forth on the adapter until the lens is directly over the
rotating axis of the tripod.
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