HDR & Panoramas: where to learn

Question

I have some ideas for software that can create HDR images or panoramas. I'd like to learn how to do these myself, for example how to create algorithms for image alignment, combining parts of images for HDR & tonemapping, etc. (Preferably in C/Obj-C, though the concepts will apply to any language.) Where are the best places to learn about these things, and what might be some simple projects I could start with?

I'm near the fabulous Powell's Technical Bookstore, so I can easily take a trip there — if you have any specific recommendations for books I'd love to hear them.

Thanks in advance!

Answer 1

One algorithm for image alignment is the Scale Invariant Feature Transform (and another, perhaps more approachable reference, and Google will probably turn up many more). You might find autopano-sift-C and/or the open-source parts of libpano useful, either directly or for inspiration.

[Perhaps somebody else can/will help you with the HDR part -- I won't have anything to do with that.]