Photographing Bonsai

Redwood Ryan

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Hey guys,

Is anyone willing to share their setup when it comes to photographing their trees? I usually just poorly photograph my trees against a wall, but would like to do better going forward, especially since I am a photographer.

Anyone use a light box?
 
Hey guys,

Is anyone willing to share their setup when it comes to photographing their trees? I usually just poorly photograph my trees against a wall, but would like to do better going forward, especially since I am a photographer.

Anyone use a light box?
Another tip is to stand farther back than you think and zoom in on your subject. Doing that narrows the angle to the lens and helps enhance the depth of the subject.
 
Another tip is to stand farther back than you think and zoom in on your subject. Doing that narrows the angle to the lens and helps enhance the depth of the subject.
Agreed. I like to use a long lens and stand about 20’ away to get shots like these.
9D840025-C7DC-4B93-AD0A-E77A6A1C4EB4.jpeg2F7039D6-B62A-49AC-89BF-82BF31493FAF.jpegEF223FE0-EFE1-449C-A61E-84523622D3DD.jpeg
 
I like how the background softens with a strong zoom. It really seems to pull the tree forward and add depth in ways that a solid background can't.

Did you try spraying a light mist on that ginkgo to highlight the webs on the top?
No, it just caught my eye one morning, and I shot it out the door; didn’t even notice the web until I dumped the photos onto my iPad. I do keep a camera handy and love to shoot trees in the AM sun after a rain or with dew.
 
Hey guys,

Is anyone willing to share their setup when it comes to photographing their trees? I usually just poorly photograph my trees against a wall, but would like to do better going forward, especially since I am a photographer.

Anyone use a light box?
Tree in sun, dark backdrop in the shade, shoot at about -2, will give you that totally blacked out effect. You can use a reflector to intensify the effect.
 
Tree in sun, dark backdrop in the shade, shoot at about -2, will give you that totally blacked out effect. You can use a reflector to intensify the effect.
Yes to that. Except place the tree out in the open on a cloudy day with the black background in shade. I get my best shots with the tree at the edge of my west facing porch in early afternoon and the background black drape in shade just a little further back on the porch. That gets less reflection off the black surface and no light is visible on the light colored objects behind the drape, all making the background disappear and easier to edit. When it is too bright outside areas that have light colored objects behind the drape show up on the picture, and are difficult to edit out. The foliage at some angle to direct, -not cloudy sun shines too brightly and dominates the picture detracting from the depth of the merely well-lit other leaves deeper in the tree. The camera is on a tripod ~4 to 6 feet off the porch. I have two black drapes, one is background and the other a tablecloth. There needs to be an open space between the background drape and the table so the two cloths will hang evenly in the two planes. Both drapes are ~50" x 72"+ to accomodate the distance between the canopy and the background. Too close makes background shadows and disturbs the hang of the rear drape. Wind is a enemy.

It is very difficult to shoot when big fluffy clouds are passing because the light is always changing from too bright to too dark. The best condition is complete cloud cover, -a high grey sky. Too dark is not better than too bright to get the best depth of field and see into the canopy.
 
How do even manage to set up that backdrop and keep it so clean outdoors! I cannot always manage to do that with my black backdrop indoors!
It is not clean :)
I had to replace it when we used the backdrop to line a box for some kittens we found and the kittens made a mess..
I now have a piece of black board -which is too shiny- and have ordered some other backdrops.
Thing is, with the backdrop in the shade and black, any stains on there are underexposed in the final picture and you do not see them.

As some others have indicated: a little distance between tree and backdrop AND between you and the tree go a long way to make nice pictures. I usually grab 70-105 lens en take as much distance as needed to use 105mm.

With backdrops I struggle with wind outside, which is what I got a board instead of cloth replacement initially.

I usually shoot all my trees twice a year. I do not wish to lug all the trees across the yard so I squeeze in a tiny spot next to where my trees are to take the pictures. Struggling for a good setup. Technically, what I do works. It is not practical though. I am jealous when I see the indoor studio-workbench setup some have.
 
@MACH5 could possibly provide some pointers, the pics he posts always look good.
 
For those that use lights, what color bulbs do you use?

It depends! I been watching a lot of flicks on it, I'd start with soft white.

@barrosinc I'd like your opinion on this rig, since I want to get it golden too!
20210408_191042.jpg

Thinking about utilizing these two lights for the back/side, and another for the top front.

It's been hard to balance both a good glaze focus without being flat, AND form.

Thank you sir!

Sorce
 
Bumping this thread because I someone trying to figure out backgrounds the other day —

I get nice results using poster board with small subjects, just using a sheltered spot with two light-colored walls, and indirect sunlight, plus a wooden bench. (A table would keep my butt off the ground, but there’s cardboard for sitting on…)

I set the poster board vertically, so that the bottom covers the bench, and the top is upright against the wall. Weight it down with my subject, or whatever’s clean & handy. (Masking tape is handy, just in case the top flaps or slouches down the wall.)

Nice seamless effect!
 
I'm starting to photograph my trees with more intention.
I have not set up lights or backdrop,only my camera and lens.

I do favor close ups of details.

Hope I can learn more here.
 

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