FLAAR staff at Bowling Green State University of Ohio, holding a panorama picture of Lake Atitlan , Guatemala.

This course is unique in that it's an actual professional expedition to do large format digital panoramic photography. Once we photograph this specific area of Guatemala, the course will not likely be repeated.

This is a hands-on courses with limited participation size. We have the top of the line digital panorama camera from BetterLight. If enough people sign up we may add the original Dicomed FieldPro BetterLight Pano system (same system as used by Stephen Johnson to photograph the National Parks) and the Seitz Super RoundShot 70mm - 220 rollfilm panoramic camera.

Students will work in small groups for maximum practice together with an instructor. This course will have no minimum group size. Cutoff group size is 8.

Although it helps to have a knowledge of Photoshop beforehand, under some circumstances we can provide Photoshop training as an additional course concurrent with the panorama course. Training in Photoshop is available separately for introductory into intermediate level or for brush up intermediate course if you already have a bit of knowledge.

This course in panoramic photography is suitable for any individual, of any age or background, who wishes to learn about digital imaging and panoramic photography.

Naturally this course is especially appropriate for architects, photographers, graphic designers, artists, architectural historians, art historians, archaeologists or students of these disciplines.

Dr Nicholas Hellmuth is an architectural historian who specializes in large format photography of ancient Mayan pyramids and buildings throughout Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras. This program is sponsored by FLAAR Digital Imaging Resource Center at the Francisco Marroquin University.

The course will take advantage of the natural scenery of Guatemala, especially the tropical beauty of the highland mountains and the volcanic cones which dramatize the skylines in panorama photography.

Although we obviously won't do pano photography from an airplane, to see what the landscape looks like, see the area a few miles from the university.

• Volcan de Fuego

• Pacaya Volcan

We may also do urban landscapes in the nicest portions of Zone 10, Vista Hermosa, and the airport area to show off the striking modern architecture of this expanding city. Field tRIP´s will include excursions to Antigua, the Spanish colonial ruins about one hour from the city. We will also photograph Lake Atitlan, whose volcano-rimmed shores make it often considered the most beautiful lake in Latin America.

The designations "introduction" and "advanced" explain the nature of this course. Introduction implies that common sense and a good photographic eye are the most useful prerequisites.

"Advanced" means the students will learn the absolute latest technological advances in panorama photography, namely seamless digital photography. A large format digital scan back rotates on a computer-controlled panorama head. One complete vertical pixel column is taken with each "shot." Up to 29,999 pixel columns can be taken in automatic sequence (Adobe Photoshop can't open a digital image larger than 30,000 pixels). The average file is about 280 MB to 600 MB of true optical data (no interpolation).

This course will involve large format inkjet digital printing since the panoramas lend themselves to giant mural-sized enlargements. Indeed the best student and faculty photographs will be offered to large format printer manufacturers for them to consider using these images to showcase the quality of the large format printers at trade shows.

This course is especially suitable for architectural students, architectural historians as well as for anyone wishing to learn digital photography. This course is also suitable for individuals who are already professional photographers as well as hobby photographers who wish to have some experience using professional equipment.

Individuals with considerable interest but less experience are also welcome, indeed they will be offered private instruction in Adobe Photoshop to bring them up to speed.

Dr Hellmuth will give the initial lectures on the overall system and will supervise the training by other instructors including Marlon Castillo. The actual practice sessions will be led by instructors at Francisco Marroquin University who have been using this panoramic camera for two years.

Focus will be on visual communications of naturtal and urban landscapes.