specifically light inside a box,
specifically light inside a light box, which I made.
The project began a little over two weeks ago when I saw Amanda Peters’s beautiful photos of larch cones. I asked her about them, as did others, and she then explained the process. The light box was inexpensive and simple to build, but using it was another matter. I had to experiment … a lot. Most of the 366 shots from the first session ended up in the trash.
I learned a fair amount from my trials and errors. Of course I could have consulted some of the many webpages on the subject, and I will next time. But honestly, I enjoyed exploring on my own.
Because so much of the scene is white, a camera in Auto mode underexposes, making the subject too dark. Fortunately last month I learned about exposure compensation. For most of these photos I set EC to +1, or even +2, and everything in-between (three increments per step). Yet I still had to adjust in iPhoto. Maybe it's time to start checking photo histograms after shooting.
My light source was sunlight through a window. But the day was only partly sunny, with clouds sailing by. More light would have been nice. A tripod might help, allowing photos with longer exposures to be more in focus.
But even after severe culling, I still had enough photos for a modest exhibition. All post-processing was done in iPhoto … nothing fancy.
I’m strictly a wild plant botanist. I've never learned the names of the house plants that I bought 24 years ago, along with a house.
This is the sagebrush that's traditionally burned in women’s sweat lodges. It’s also called fringed sage, Artemisia frigida.
Rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus) in my yard has green stems through the winter. I spotted the buds when I was composing the photo.
One can never have enough pebbles … nor enough pebble-searching.
Never!!!
Sand ripples from tidal flats 250 million years ago; San Rafael Swell, Utah.
In 1875 Grove Karl Gilbert studied Mount Hillers in the Henry Mountains in Utah. He called it a “laccolite” and thereby made it the type locality for structures now known as laccoliths – uplifts formed by shallow intrusion of magma. Gilbert was one of the greatest early geologists of the American West.
Very cool! Your light box is so simple yet perfect for highlighting single specimens. Interesting depth of focus of the different images - taken from the top or more from a side.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Nina! I'm happy with the light box, it's fun. Just need to figure out how to best use it.
DeleteNicely done! I prefer natural light, as well, so I try to photography indoor pictures near a window--sometimes it works pretty well. Kathleen at Kasey's Korner is a pro with indoor (and outdoor) photography, and she uses natural light, as well. I enjoy simple photos of simple (yet profound!) subjects.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Beth, for the Comment and the tip about Kasey's Korner. She seems to pay a lot of attention to composition, and to good effect. Some neat ideas there, e.g. use of depth of field.
DeleteNice work! Getting the lighting right is always a struggle with small subjects. For years we fought reflection when shooting Navajo silver items! Sheets, scrims, tupperware, you name it: all trying to approximate a bright cloudy day!
ReplyDeletethanks, Richard, I'm glad to hear I wasn't struggling with something easy :-) At least I don't have to deal with reflections ... that would be tough!
DeleteI'll have to try a lightbox again. I cut my first box without leaving support for the... fabric, since I didn't have any tissue paper to hand... Yours looks good and so do the results! Love those beach pebbles :) All the rabbitbrush around here is green and growing too - amazing how it can make the place look lush ;)
ReplyDeleteAmy, I recommend Amanda's post about making one (link in my post). I followed her approach. My success with photos is limited at this point, but I'm optimistic!
DeleteEcheveria and Begonia, I think, for your houseplants. Nice pebbles.
ReplyDeleteHave you considered going for a mid-grey background so you get illumination but not so much post-processing to do?
Thanks, Pat, for the ids :-) I have wondered if a different background would be helpful ... maybe have several different inserts on hand, even with different textures. Lots of opportunity for experimentation.
ReplyDelete