Question - How do you identify mountain peaks in panoramic photo?

[bahelmer]

Hello,

I have a question - how do you identify the mountain peaks in a panoramic photo of a mountain range such as the Alps? To mountain experts, this question might sound silly. But I am just an amateur, so please forgive me for asking this question.

I have seen some web sights (such as http://www.alpen-panoramen.de/) which show fantastic panoramic views of the Alps, from different locations, with labels of the mountain peaks submitted by users.

I have a few panoramic photos of my own, and I can identify a few of more famous peaks. But I have doubts about some of the other peaks, and so I am looking for advice. Are there methods or tricks with http://www.google.com/ or other websites, to help me identify the others?

I thought that it might be an easy task. I know the camera was located at point A, using a lens with a certain horizontal angle of view based on focal length and sensor size. The peaks which I have already identified should help me define the "piece of the pie" captured in the photo. Tracing this "pie piece" on a printed map should give me an idea of what might be visible. But the issues related to peak heights and relative distance are more difficult. Tall peaks located far away might be blocked from view by shorter peaks closer to the camera. And it is very difficult to judge the relative distances in the photo itself. And then there is the curvature of the earth, which means my "flat earth" calculations are approximatations!

Any advice?

[Tdragone]

If I were you; I'd download google earth.
You can find a spot in the Alps and then rotate the orientation of the map until you're looking in the direction of the shot.. then tilt the view to give you approx perspective.