Small Planets

Our bodies are like the shadows of unborn planets.

Sometimes, when we are alone, they are all we have.

Darrell Gray

©Tanya Decheva, Delicate Small Planets, today (15.11.2020)

I've lost it. It's official. I can't write right now. My mind is a bit of a mess...okay, not a mess - maybe too chaotic. Kind of strange to lose the inspiration to write but not to photograph. Maybe this creative energy has its limits and is not distributing evenly. So here's what I've decided to do:

I'm sharing with you the small planets I've been creating all day. They're made from panoramic photos I've shot with my phone. It's strange that the software integrated in the camera app doesn't support full 360° panoramas. The most I can get out of it is around 270°. That made it more difficult to make the planets. But it was a fun Sunday activity.  

©Tanya Decheva, Nighttime Small Planets, today (15.11.2020)

Panoramas always frightened me as something that is very technical and kind of hard to achieve. And then I started using my phone's camera and it's such fun. I'll share some of the panoramas I've made some other time. 

I'm trying to remember when was the first so called Tiny Planets app released. I remember a friend of mine, who was very enthusiastic and showing everyone what the app could do. In a year or two I learned how to do these planets in Photoshop. And from then on I always goof around with the panoramas I've took. I always think of the book The Little Prince and all the planets he visits throughout his journey.  

©Tanya Decheva, Nely's Planet and My Dad's Planet, today (15.11.2020)

If you ever wondered how to make an image like this, you'll find out right now:

1. First of all, you would need a 360° panoramic photo. You can use other panoramas also, but the effect wouldn't be the same.
2. When you open it in Photoshop you'll find the Image Size option in the Image menu. There you should unlink the width and height parameters. Then you change the width to whatever your height is. Or the opposite - your height to whatever your width is. That will make your image a square.
3. In the Image menu you have an option Image Rotation - you choose Flip Canvas Vertical (or 180° does the trick also).
4. Almost done...In the Filter menu look for the Distort and then choose Polar Coordinates. There you should pick the Rectangular to Polar option.
5. And voila, you've made a planet from your panorama.

Most of the time that's not all. You'll need to do a bit of retouch to the image to make it look better.

©Tanya Decheva, Black Sea Small Planets, today (15.11.2020)

For some time now on the market there are 360° cameras. Maybe you've seen videos, made with these. I've never tried to shoot with one but maybe someday I'll have the chance. Until then my phone is always with me. I hope you've enjoyed that and I'd be happy to see your small planets.