Comments about Rocky Nook Mastering Digital Panoramic Photography:

This is quite a technical exploration of panorama construction, focusing more on angles and planes perhaps rather than composition. Woeste shares the history and philosophy of the technique which provides a good background to the field, if not a practical one.
There is detailed information about the availability and use of panoramic equipment for professional/commercial photographers, which I think would be very useful for those moving into this field, but less so for an amateur. He looks at the theory for both two and three dimensional (spherical) projections.
His approach to stitching panoramas is similarily technical, rather than a recipe to follow. There is some critical information presented but again I think more suited for a well experienced photographer.
The projects and their progression shown are based on commercial rather than artistic tenents but the ability to follow his process behind the scenes is interesting.
Mastering Digital Panoramic Photography is a detailed look at the aspects of creating a technical image. Though I think an amateur would benefit from the information presented, it is more suited to a professional photographer who is interested in experimenting in the field.

(I recieved a copy through the DSUG program)

Comments about Rocky Nook Mastering Digital Panoramic Photography:

An excellent technical book covering everything from the history of modern panoramic photography through to shooting and stitching panormas.

It's not really aimed at beginners, though there is a wealth of technical information in here it's more for the more advanced amateur level.

The book covers a wide range of topics well, from choosing a panoramic head for your tripod, how to align your images correctly and printing your digital panoramas.

All followed up by an in-depth discussion of four panorama projects. Packed with beautiful photos (as you'd expect from a Rocky Nook photography book!), it's an expertly constructed book, on a fascinating subject.

Comments about Rocky Nook Mastering Digital Panoramic Photography:

If you are looking for a simple step-by-step approach to getting a great stitched panoramic photo, this may not be the book for you. Though there is plenty of how-to type instruction with well documented screen shots, it is not presented in the recipe to success approach taken by some books.

Conversely, if you are the type that likes to get the entire picture (pun somewhat intended), including all the background, history, technique and philosophy to the panoramic technique, then this is the book for you. Woeste provides superb examples, front annotated behind-the-scenes setup views to beautiful examples of his own work, to compliment a thorough walk through panoramic photography. The history of the craft is included, giving some interesting background.

The detailed view of tripod heads & gear definitely puts this book beyond the avid amateur who is looking for just the basic simple software solution for stitching some photos together. Perhaps that is this books biggest difficulty, finding the right audience. Even so, for the photographer that enjoys knowing the deep details and options available in this area, I'd say this book is a good offering.