Karen,


I like #3 best. Also, it helps to shoot with the horizon dead center then crop to rule of thirds after stiching. I have done a few with the camera in portrait which lends itself to a higher resolution crop.


As far as ratio: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panorama


I think it is whatever it ends up being.


I use Microsoft ICE http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/um/redmond/groups/ivm/ICE/It's unknown and free. One of the best stitching programs I've ever used. As good if not better results than PTGUI. It's a breeze to use, just drop and drag.


Her's a recent one I took of a storm wall rolling onto the beach at Hilton Head Island, SC.At only800 pixels wide it's not much to look at. The original is 14659 x 2285 and is a stitch of 9 handheld images from my 5D with 17-35 f2.8L @ 35mm. Ratio is aprox. 13:2





Panos are so much fun!!


Chuck