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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16 comments:

  1. Excellent idea! I'm looking for something portable that can be outdoors, as well. Something to prop behind a plant to make it stand out from the crowd, so to speak. I'll give this a try. Thanks!

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  2. I bet you could get some black fabric (maybe felt?) at a craft store!

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  3. Good idea, Steve! I know many people use black fabric and I just don't have a place to keep that laying around. A black piece of posterboard would be much easier to stick behind a door. (I love that orchid!)

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  7. Oh what a great idea - I might try this out in the garden....

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  8. Good tip. I also purchased a cheap ($10 for 22") reflector that has gold, silver and white panels and I love it for adding a pop of additional light or, in the case of the gold, a warm glow to the plants. It folds into a disc about 9" across and it very lightweight so I can take it with me when I'm looking for wildflowers.

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  9. Thanks for the tip. I really like how the plants stand out against the black.

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  10. Great idea, and I have to say I agree with some of the other commenter's that plants look fantastic against the black, it works much better than a pale background, and at only a dollar am affordable price too!

    Claire Diligent Gardener

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  11. Love the way the plants look Steve, good idea. Looks like you are attracting more spam, we have had a spate of it lately too.

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  12. This doesn't top Rainforest Drops, but it's close. I bought poster board today for 69¢ but my first background was a piece of 12x12" cardstock taped to a piece of 11x12" cardboard. I'm holding it behind EVERYTHING: loropetalum blooms, blueberry buds, narcissus -- all those things that formerly faded into the foliage and mulch.

    As for Kat's tip, when I go back to Dollar Tree, I will pick up a large gift bag that I noticed that was reflecting shiny patterned paper. It is big enough to hold my cardboard device, lol.

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  13. Very cool tip Steve thank you so much! I'm gong to have to try this!

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  14. Great idea - I must get me some poster board - thanks for sharing the great photos

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  15. So simple, but so clever and as your photos show, it makes a world of difference.

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