The art of panoramic photography has changed considerably since the onset of the digital age. In the past, creating such photographs would have involved using an expensive camera or spending many hours in a darkroom sticking various images together. Today, creating the most beautiful wide angle shots is a lot easier, though to get the best pictures still requires an analysis of various factors.
Just because a certain location may look breathtaking in person, does not mean that it can automatically convert into a stunning digital image. One of the most important considerations is timing. The amount of available light and how it is diffused will have an impact on how attractive a photograph is. When taking pictures of wide angle scenes the best times to capture the views would be at dawn or dusk.
If you have access to a tripod, this can help improve the chances of taking attractive shots. But this is not to say that you must have a tripod. If you have a steady hand you should be able to take great panoramas without the need for such equipment.
Choosing the right focal length for the desired field of view is an issue that should not be overlooked. If you are tempted to go for a short focal length so as to reduce the number of photographs that you need to take this may not be the best decision. Shorter focal lengths have a tendency to produce distortions and unclear results.
You should consider what aperture would be appropriate for the type of images you want to capture. You could study the manufacture of your camera's recommendations or check out advice from professional photographers. This is an issue that should not be overlooked as it will have an impact on the quality of your images when practicing panoramic photography.