Hello,
My name is Robert, and I would love to share my experience of taking Photo Spheres with you.
Over the many years of taking Photo Spheres with my phone using the camera app (and the old Street View app) I have tried many methods to improve the quality and helpfulness of each one for google maps, I started back in 2014 with small tests in rooms and outdoors trying to work out how I could best use this technology and back then it was basic, and taking a long to for the phone to process each image, roll forward to now and everything is so much faster, it used to take 7 - 10 minutes taking one Photo Sphere, but now its 1.5 minutes from clicking that button to the image processing being complete, it’s a very cool thing.
Lets start here
So first thing is look out for is how close to objects, buildings or trees I am this might seem basic but the app struggles to match up corners of a wall if the brick patterns are the same or trees moving in the wind as the branches move as well as objects like cars or people moving around when taking a shot.
Its best to plan
If you look at the link below as an example I had three things to plan out, one being people and privacy, for this I waited until they were all looking away and took my first few images with the people in so I knew I didn’t have to wait for individual people, next was the quay was made out of blocks now this one was not to bad but if you look down you can see where the stitching hasn’t quite got it but for what I was doing it was ok as I knew the app can and lastly it was the weather, now it looks great having sun however when you’re taking a shot and looking up the sun can distract you and then you end up with black patterns in your image from missing the point, it’s best to look through your screen and not at the sun although having a hat with a rim or sunglasses help speed things up.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/JmmWq9MJeHnvvqQS7
Pattern
So to take an effective image with your Pixel phone you need to think of a pattern that fits your needs, the basics are as follows:
- Hold the target circle over a white dot. The dot will turn blue, then disappear.
- Move the camera to the next white dot as you hold the lens steady.
- Repeat until there are no more white dots
Now the above does not consider cloud movement or people, so I recommend the following to help improve your capture:
- Position your starting point by making sure you have a subject or object (so the app knows a start and end point) and keep the Pixel phone about 1 1/2 foot away using the centre of your chest as a visual pivot point.
- Hold the target circle over the white dot, when it turns blue either move horizontally to your left or right.
- Continue horizontally until you meet up with your starting image.
- Next consider if you have any movement like clouds or people you want to capture or avoid, for capture of the sky move the camera up above the horizontal pictures you just captured and proceed to repeat point 2 & 3. when complete there is one last white dot which is at the very top of your sphere that you need to do to finish the top half of your sphere. Now if you’re going for avoidance where people are walking towards you take a shot from behind you and then proceed to work in the same clockwise direction as the people walk past and they will not show up in your capture, then continue like the previous capture of the sky.
- The lower part of your capture will be in the same as point 4.
- Not The Feet… now the last white dot is directly where you’re standing so to avoid getting your ghost feet in the shot, hold your Pixel phone in the same position and take a step out (of your visual pivot point) and then capture your last shot.
Movement can be bad
Well, it can be making you crisp image look blurred or show someone with three legs, but I have found that you can have fun with this, let me explain.
I went to take a Photo Sphere of the Jordan Hill Roman Temple, but like many I have done in the same place the weather was bad, so I asked the family if they wanted to do something cool, and stand in different positions while I took each picture in the Photo Sphere and the end result was funny. I’m sure you can make something similar with a little inspiration.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/wtiuEz5wR9g2iXjA7
Memory bubble
Sometimes even if you’re not taking a Photo Sphere for posting on google maps or a listing having it as memories of a moment shared with friends or family, its almost like a memory bubble that you can immerse yourself in. the following link is an old one of a sunset I shared with my family although I have two boys one was playing a game of hide from the camera, but I’m hoping you get what I mean with this one.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/zULa4ZiKpHYRGiNT9
Even setting up a family picture is fun putting everyone in different positions in the next two Photo Sphere.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/jBL99FMizX242VV29
https://maps.app.goo.gl/Fs5gVryMYmLd9Z3t9
To recap:
- How far away from objects, buildings & trees, position yourself into the middle of what you want to take.
- Weather if it’s raining work your way from the ground up to the sky to minimise rain on the lens and if its sunny look at the screen when you’re looking towards the sun (dose help to have sunglasses and hat)
- Are things moving, plan out which direction and pattern you’re doing your capturing.
- Can you save a memory or create a fun Photo Sphere by positioning people, objects or even do some movements.
You will have points in time when the app misses or is confused but it’s worth trying again while your there.
Troubleshooting & Tips
- Hold the Pixel phone vertically and try to avoid horizontally, you’ll get a nicer image.
- Don’t just take the Photo Sphere and run wait for it to process and look to make sure the image does not have any black voids (saves time when you’re walking and then realise you need to retake the Photo Sphere).
- Check the weather it’s one thing getting a great shot, it another forgetting a raincoat and getting wet.
- If the phone crashes look at rebooting your phone most people don’t reboot / turn off phones now so it could be a simple on and off.
- Turn your airplane mode on while you take the Photo Sphere the number of times I have been called and the app stops, and I have lost an image is upsetting at best.
- If your image is dark, you can still take a Photo Sphere and edit the image in Google Photos in the Pixel app or on a web browser and make them brighter.
Well as an overview I have enjoyed taking many Photo Spheres over the many years on a mobile, I haven’t ventured out into purchasing a 360 degree camera as that brings up issues like tripod legs, leaving your equipment exposed (as in to being stolen) as well as relying on additional software to extract the image and then upload, my enjoyment is from making a quick Photo Sphere and sharing it quickly.