What's Your Pan Format Preference?

Do you like 

this "full-frame" stitched panorama format

or

this stitched and cropped panorama format?

Why?  Feel free to make a comment below.

Note: I should have mentioned that this is the first in a series of postings to cover my New Year's weekend in the Grand Canyon with my photographer friend, Vaughn Hart.  (You may see him in postings during the series and when he publishes his photos to his Picassa account, I'll let you know.)

Rainbow Basin Natural Area

I've posted a few snapshots from the CamCo's car camp in Rainbow Basin in a Picasa album. You should be able to click through.

I've been making stitched panoramas in Windows Live Photo Gallery because it's more pleasant to sit at my laptop in a warm room than at the PhotoShop-enabled PC in my cold office. Usually, I prefer not to stitch my pans so viewers see the edges of the photos, but WLPG does retain the cock-eyed border which can be fun. 

Below you see the crazy skewed stitch that happened when I joined three images in two stages. Interesting, but you will see the proper image in the Picasa album.



What happens when you make a lazy edit in Windows Live Photo Gallery. 



You can click the images for larger versions.



Elph magic

This lovely little blossom surprised me once in Owl Canyon in the Rainbow Basin Natural Area. Then again on the LCD of my pocket Elph. I'd snapped the macro handheld, low, so low, below my eye level.

Walking Wilshire With Mary

This rainy morning I jumped on the 720 Rapid bus to go downtown and meet Mary Forgione and a small band of lunatics.  Our goal was to walk Wilshire (rain or shine) to the beach.

We did it! We started with twelve walkers and finished with ten. I think two bailed out before we had even crossed the 110 Freeway.

In rain and shine, we swapped stories and listened to Mary and Terry Ginsberg tell us about the architecture and history of landmarks. We visited the lovely Los Altos apartment building in Westlake, stopped for a snack in Hancock Park, made wardrobe adjustments when the sun came out in Beverly Hills, lunched in Westwood.

Courtyard of Los Altos Apartments.  

In the end, we had walked 16 miles in about 6 hours. Departing from Wilshire and Figueroa on the steps of the Sanwa building at about 8:15 in the rain and arriving at the feet of Saint Monica at about 3:15 in blustery, sunny beach weather. 

The Angeles Chapter's Wilderness Adventures Section sponsored the outing. Mary uses Wilshire as a training/maintenance hike when the mountains get too snowy and icy. Her latest idea - walk Wilshire in the evening to see all the lights! Can't wait for that one!

Moonrise in the White Mountains

A Pyramid in Philadelphia



A Pyramid Building

It was a hot few days in Philadelphia. Humid, too.
Finally Monday saw a break and the sky was overcast. Fat raindrops bombed pedestrians but not too much. It was comfortable to be walking up Arch Street and I noticed an icon. 

More Chihuahua!

Two more slideshows from Mexico.

Arco y Circulos
Check it out.  I noticed that I seem to have an affinity for slices of circles.

Chihuahua Pots

This collection is from a pot-firing demonstration.