A method for photographing a panoramic picture, and for identifying motion of a photographing apparatus to automatically photograph respective images of a panoramic picture. The method steps include: (a) obtaining a first image in response to a request for a panoramic picture photography; (b) identifying motion of a photographing apparatus having obtained the first image, by applying a motion estimation technique to currently input images; (c) automatically determining a photographing direction based on the identified motion of the photographing apparatus; (d) selectively applying a motion estimation technique for estimating motion in a horizontal direction or a vertical direction, according to the determined photographing direction, and identifying motion of the photographing apparatus; (e) judging photographing time points of respective images by identifying that the identified motion of the photographing apparatus has reached a preset threshold value for decision of the photographing time point; and (f) photographing images at the photographing time point of the respective images.