2016 PHOTOCHALLENGE, WEEK 42: OUTDOOR TINY PLANETS

Tiny Planets or Small Planets as some call them are created from rectangular pano images or equirectangular images created for 360 spherical views. I’ve always been a bigger fan of full spherical images (PhotoSpheres) but lately I’ve been having some fun with my images by turning them into these bizarre little planet like perspectives.

Making them is not as difficult as one may think. They’re actually simpler to make with an Android or IOS based smartphone so SmartPhone Photography fans will definately have a blast. PC users, especially PhotoShop users won’t be left behind in the dust either.

I’ll take you quickly through my workflow, but will add links to tutorials documenting other methodologies.

I create most of my basic images with a Ricoh Theta or I use an Android SmartPhone to create a basic PhotoSphere. At times I also use my DSLR with a Fisheye and blend the images. Don’t forget that we had a PhotoSphere Challenge back in ( 2015 CHALLENGE, WEEK 23 OUTDOOR PHOTOGRAPHY – PhotoSpheres & 360 Degree Panoramas ) that should be helpful as a reference as well.

I then use an Android application called THETA + by Ricoh. It’s also available for IOS. Even if you don’t own a Ricoh Theta, the APP will assist you in creating your tiny planet from a PhotoSphere. There are also a multitude of TinyPlanet APPs available for Android and IOS.

You simply manipulate your image to your liking and save it.

Naturally the entire process works better outdoors. Your image will have to include a decent amount of sky from edge to edge. The image above is one I used for a TinyPlanet and is a good example of proportions to use. It works well from a rectangular perspective, as an equirectangular image and as a PhotoSphere as seen below. The advantage with an equirectangular image VS a Rectangular Pano is that you will have ends that match each other.

Post from RICOH THETA. – Spherical Image – RICOH THETA

https://theta360.com/widgets.js

Here’s a little tutorial that goes a little deeper into the creation of your tiny planet adapted for PhotoShop Users.

Little Planet Photos: 5 Simple Steps to Making Panorama Worlds

Here’s a Video Tututorial and a simple search on YouTube will give you endless results.

Like all photography Challenges, your end result will totally depend on your initial image. It’s in your best interest to apply yourself and carefully plan out your initial Pano or Equirectangular image to achieve the best results in post processing your Tiny Planet.

You can search Google Play for your Android Phone App : https://play.google.com/store/search?q=tiny%20planet&c=apps&hl=en

You can search the APP Store for your IOS App : https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/tiny-planet-photos-and-video/id425996445?mt=8

There are plenty of resources on the web and a simple GOOGLE SEARCH will probably overwhelm you.

The rules are pretty simple:

Post one original photograph (Your Image) shot each week per theme posted on this blog to Google+, Facebook, or Flickr (or all three). Tag the photo #photochallenge or #photochallenge2016.
The shot should be a new shot you took for the current weekly theme, not something from your back catalog or someone else’s image.
The posted image should be a photograph, not a video.
Don’t leave home without your camera. Participating in the 2016 PhotoChallenge is fun and easy.