New Camera Setup, New Pics

[AboveBeyond]

Thanks to Eric Group and Barrosinc for motivating me to finally get the proper lighting and background for taking pics. I bought 2 softbox kit and a black background. Here's the results of tonight's photoshoot. Comments and critiques are welcome (either photography quality or the actual trees).

Satsuki Azalea


Amur Maple


Japanese Elm


Japanese Black Pine


Japanese Boxwood


Japanese White Pine

 

[AboveBeyond]

Last one...

Willow Ficus

 

[JoeR]

Nice setup, takes great pictures.

Need to take the moss off the trunk on that japanese elm, looking pretty out of control there.

 

[quietobserver]

Is that you Ansel Adams.....lol

Very nice pics!

 

[JoeR]

Oh and on that last one, the white pine, you should consider taking off (jin) the bottom right bar branch, tilting the tree to the left, bring the foliage on the right down more while lifting the bottom left branch up to get rid of the awkward bend.

Also with tilting it, it makes the base larger so thats another bonus.

 

[JudyB]

So what did you use for your background? It looks really nice. Now you have to get wire on most of those trees!!!
@joe, looks like he's piling sphagnum moss around the base to get some surface roots, I could be wrong...

 

[barrosinc]

WOW! What a difference!!!

 

[AboveBeyond]

So what did you use for your background? It looks really nice. Now you have to get wire on most of those trees!!!
@joe, looks like he's piling sphagnum moss around the base to get some surface roots, I could be wrong...

Here's what I bought for lighting/background. I also shot these pics using my DSLR camera, which makes a big difference in addtion to the new lighting setup.

Softbox lighting:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00E4YS2XU?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00

Background:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0047FF13U?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s01

Yeah, I defintely need to do more wiring work. It's something I need to developme more experience with. As for the Elm, it does have moss/weeds that I need to get rid of. All the other trees have spaghnum.

 

[Vance Wood]

I think you have done a wonderful job of learning this associated art; photography. I don't think a lot of bonsai people are aware how important this aspect of bonsai can be. It provides a living record of the development of masterpieces, and a legal record, in the event something untoward happens and you have to call the police into the situation.

 

[DougB]

If you have a DSL you should shoot and work with raw files. What a difference that makes. Are you using a tripod and remote?

 

[AboveBeyond]

If you have a DSL you should shoot and work with raw files. What a difference that makes. Are you using a tripod and remote?

Definitely RAW. I'm using hand held (no tripod yet) at 1/80s but tripod would make make it a little easier (lower the shutterspeed, lower the iso, sharper image).

 

[erb.75]

nice pictures. very nice all around.

 

[erb.75]

I think the fact that you're using nice equipment really shows.

maybe I can convince my club to go in together on a community backdrop at the very least, then propose a photography session for a meeting once a year.

I think everyone would love to have a professional looking picture of at least their favorite tree, if not several trees

 

[barrosinc]

The only real critique I would make (lighting is as good as you could ever need), zoom in a bit and move further back, that way you avoid the perspective warp of the pot looking like an isosceles trapezoid.

You are using 26mm on a D7100. (I use 135mm on full frame, so something like 85mm for you). Try going to 40 or even 55mm if you are using the 18-55mm kit lens (seems like you are using an 18-140??).

 

[barrosinc]

I think the fact that you're using nice equipment really shows.

maybe I can convince my club to go in together on a community backdrop at the very least, then propose a photography session for a meeting once a year.

I think everyone would love to have a professional looking picture of at least their favorite tree, if not several trees

I have been using tripods for backdrops for yearsssss... I doscovered these collapsible backdrops and have never looked back. They are so convenient.

 

[MACH5]

Great, great job! Trees looking very nice too.

 

[AboveBeyond]

The only real critique I would make (lighting is as good as you could ever need), zoom in a bit and move further back, that way you avoid the perspective warp of the pot looking like an isosceles trapezoid.

You are using 26mm on a D7100. (I use 135mm on full frame, so something like 85mm for you). Try going to 40 or even 55mm if you are using the 18-55mm kit lens (seems like you are using an 18-140??).

Yes, I used a 18-140mm lens. I have a 40mm lens that I'll shoot with and see how that compares. Thanks for the tips!

 

[barrosinc]

Yes, I used a 18-140mm lens. I have a 40mm lens that I'll shoot with and see how that compares. Thanks for the tips!

No need to change lens, just zoom in a bit more and stand farther away.

 

[AboveBeyond]

Great, great job! Trees looking very nice too.

Believe it or not, after I saw your pics of one your Japanese Maples, that was when I decided to get a DSLR camera. My favorite speicies is Japanese Maples as well.

 

[AboveBeyond]

No need to change lens, just zoom in a bit more and stand farther away.

I was thinking that the prime lense would be better for image quality.