Solution for background to photograph trees

[A Random User]

Just thought I would throw this out there for those looking for
a very in-expensive and easy solution for a background to photograph your
trees against...

Go to one of the Big Box stores and buy the Biggest black out shade you
can find. The kind that you pull and they roll down, and you tug and release
and they roll back up again...

The one I got is like 60" wide (5 ft), I paid less than $40 for it, it is white, and I
made sure and get the vinyl kind, cause they are easy to wipe any dirt that may
be transferred from the bottom of the pot. Oh, Also be sure and by the Brackets
that they sell with them for like $ 2.00.

Now what I have done is, I took the brackets, mounded them to my porch awning.
When I want to take a photo of a tree, I just hang up the shade move a portable
table under it, pull down the shade, until it it has enough room to come down and
onto the table, giving you a white background and floor.

A pic of my Bujin Buttonwood
http://bonsainut.com/forums/showthread.php?11480-Bunjin-Buttonwood/page2

 

[Jason_mazzy]

great idea!

 

[A Random User]

Oh, also wanted to mention that the really cool grey fade-in I am getting
at the top of the pic, is actually due to the shadow, cast by my awning
overhang... I think it works to my advantage !

 

[berobinson82]

Thanks for the idea Princess

 

[GrimLore]

TY! I will be certain to include that in my upcoming project(s). It seems to be a lot less fussing about then a light box

 

[dick benbow]

I helped move trees up at weyerhauser for a coffee table book that a photographer was making
from shots and credits for trees from many bonsai displays open to the public.

They used black velvet and excelent back lighting. I was very impressed with the results.

Book was called Bonsai, art and nature. Photos were by J.M. Singer
was edited by Bill Valavanis, forward by a PH D from the smithsonian

 

[evmibo]

Lens options

Hey there,

I've been getting into photography for the last couple of years, I have a Pentax K30. Thanks for your background advice. I have a different question though... What lenses are you using to photograph bonsai from the "front" position? I just picked up a 50mm f/2.0 for a great price. I have seen other photographers (although lens info with pictures is somewhat limited) almost exclusively using prime lenses anywhere below 80mm for bonsai portraits.

I mean, basically it's the same idea as your typical human portraits I guess, just wanted to get your spin on it. I'm talking with Will Hiltz too (author/photographer for Dan Robinson's book Gnarly Branches).

 

[A Random User]

Hey there,

I've been getting into photography for the last couple of years, I have a Pentax K30. Thanks for your background advice. I have a different question though... What lenses are you using to photograph bonsai from the "front" position? I just picked up a 50mm f/2.0 for a great price. I have seen other photographers (although lens info with pictures is somewhat limited) almost exclusively using prime lenses anywhere below 80mm for bonsai portraits.

I mean, basically it's the same idea as your typical human portraits I guess, just wanted to get your spin on it. I'm talking with Will Hiltz too (author/photographer for Dan Robinson's book Gnarly Branches).

I have a simple point and shoot digital camera that I take my photos with now...
It's OK... I use to do a lot of Photography back in the times before we all went
digital, and I would develop my own film, and make my own prints back in College...
But, now I am not so passionate about it.

Let me say this... I have found with my camera, that I have to get back a little
from my trees to take a pic, for two reasons... The first and most importantly,
often if one is too close, or is using a wider angle lens, you end up getting fish-eye
distortion, where you are not seeing the pads straight on, but rather from above
and below... Often at the same time ???

The second, the background remains in focus, and one can pick up detail in things
you didn't even know where there on your backdrop.

When I use to do portraits back when, we would normally use an 80mm lens, but
anything 50mm or over should be fine...

 

[berobinson82]

evmibo,

have you ever seen Old Mister Crow's guide to photography?

http://octavia.zoology.washington.edu/bonsai/photography/

 

[evmibo]

Nope, thanks for the info