Shoot Beautiful Plant Photos for $1



Is it too cold or dreary outside for garden photography? You'd be surprised at the gorgeous plant shots you can get with nothing more than your camera, your favorite indoor plant and a one dollar purchase from the drug store. Here's a hint: You probably haven't used it since the science fair.

 

My one dollar photography secret is to use black posterboard as a backdrop. That's it! Here's why it works: By isolating your subject against a blank background, you take away all the distractions and clutter, putting all the focus on the patterning of a leaf or the translucence of a flower.

You can attach it to the wall with double-sided tape, and can even line them up for larger subjects. like the one above. Of course you can use different colors too. Black posterboard lends a Caravaggio-esque moodiness, while a white background imparts a light and airy feel. Neon pink would be a bit gaudy, but why not give it a shot?

When shooting against a black backdrop, point a desk lamp towards the plant from the side so that the poster board stays in the shadows. You can also darken the shadows in a photo editing program like Photoshop or one of many free programs and apps.

The simplest way to shoot against posterboard is to lay it down flat and place the plant right on top. Aim the camera downwards so that the backdrop fills the frame, play around with the lighting and 'click' goes the dynamite. The above photo of a Pachypodium was shot with a narrow depth of field, which made the soil and posterboard blurry and kept my subject sharp. If you have a point-and-shoot, using a close-up mode will produce similar results.

This Crassula might have looked unkempt otherwise, but a dark backdrop makes the arching stems pop out like sparks or splashes of water.

If this orchid looks familiar, it's because it's the same Eplc. 'Butterfly Kisses' that I drew for this blog's header. It's interesting how different it looks against black instead of white!

For a different approach, let the light hit the posterboard as well. The rough slate gray background complements the textured pink leaves of this Episcia nicely.

Finally, try shooting plants in a setting of the same color (as I have with this black Cryptanthus) to draw attention to the patterning or texture.

Have any other neat photography tips you'd like to share? Be sure to let me know in the comments!
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