As photographers we are always trying to come up with new and creative ideas for our clients. It’s one of the fun parts of our job. We are constantly finding new inspiration and finding special ways to make each session feel unique, and with Turks and Caicos as our backdrop, the inspiration never runs dry. It’s what keeps us growing as artists, and it’s one of the things we love most about what we do.
What is the Tiny Planet Photo?
This iconic image is actually two photos that are merged together to create the effect of a small globe that appears to be floating in space. Each photo is created by a single fish eye lens which has over 180 degrees of coverage. The Insta360 camera has two of these fisheye lenses which are oriented opposite each other and when combined together and processed using a proprietary software, the two photos generated by these lenses create this unique miniature spherical, floating globe effect. Because the camera captures everything in all directions simultaneously, the proprietary software is able to “stitch” the bottom edges of the images together to form a sphere, putting you or your subject directly on the surface of the “planet”. It is a novelty shot that really gets viewers’ attention, just like with drone photos.
Techniques for the Globe Effect
There are some simple techniques to get this globe effect. First, you must be in an open area to get a floating round globe. And secondly, it helps if you have a selfie stick or a tripod to stabilize and orient the camera in the desired position. The image is still very unusual, but the globe effect is not achievable in too enclosed a space.
Why Turks and Caicos is the Perfect Location
Because there are so many open spaces with plenty of blue skies and turquoise water. Turks and Caicos is an ideal location to create the signature Tiny Planet effect. It is important to place your subject close to the lenses but not too close. The fisheye lens has a tremendous amount of barrel distortion. This distortion is what warps the scene, allowing the software to the generate the floating miniature world. However, the distortion will also warp objects and humans unnaturally if they are too close to the lens.
Using a Selfie Stick
A selfie stick is also a necessary accessory. The stick itself automatically disappears in the processing. However, the person holding the stick remains in the scene. Therefore, if the photographer does not want to appear in the scene, they will need to be removed in post-production. A way to avoid this retouching is to give the stick to the client, who can hold the camera and take the shot themselves. The camera can be controlled from a cell phone with the Insta 360 App or directly from the camera using a self-timer.
Give us a call to book session to get your Tiny Planet photos!
Advanced Techniques and Social Media
Other advanced techniques with this camera include using the Insta360 to produce creative, mind-bending Tiny Planet short videos that can be very powerful on social media platforms like TikTok. Overall, the Tiny Planet photo is a fun, unique effect that will get your viewer’s attention and surely be a topic of conversation.
