Apparatus and method for combining background images with main images

An imaging system comprising:

• imaging means including a camera stage capable of self movement and a video camera mounted on the camera stage, said imaging means generates background image information and main image information;
• imaging operation control means for controlling operational movements of the imaging means by generating imaging control information specifying the operational movements of said imaging means as background image information is generated;
• recording/reproducing means for recording on a recording medium background image information, and for generating reproduced background image information;
• combining means for combining said main image information and said reproduced background image information;
• and
• system control means for controlling the imaging means, the imaging operation control means, the recording/reproducing means, and the combining means, and for storing said imaging control information in an internal memory,
• wherein the system control means controls the recording/reproducing means to correlate the reproduced background image information and the stored imaging control information, and controls the imaging means to generate main image information based upon the stored imaging control information, and
• wherein the main image information and the reproduced background image information are input into the combining means.