Photographing trees

[daudelus]

Any suggestions for tutorials? Am I alone in the experience of being excited by a tree just worked on, wanting to take some images for posting with pride, only to take the pictures and have the tree look very different? In person, foliage pads appear distinct and layered well, then the picture makes it look like a blob of green! It leads to second guessing myself about the work I’ve done... as if I must be stepping back from the tree and blurring my eyes to see what I want to see in my tree but it may not be real!
I will say I have not put a great deal of effort into lighting, back drop, etc... I usually try to find some fairly plain backgrounds and use the light from the environment.

 

[Anthony]

Camera has but one eye.
This is why the images on Youtube, from Japan, where
the camera moves around the tree is more effective.

A suitable background, lighting from a 45 deg. angle or
overhead if you want to show the mounds [ as seen at
12 noon in reality ].

And image shot from 3 times the distance of the height,
or width of the tree will do the job.

You can also rotate the tree for 4 sides and give an overhead
as well.

There is also an additional feature where a programme
stitches the images together and gives more of a 3d effect.
See AUSbonsai.
Good Day
Anthony

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

Most phone and digital cameras have serious issues with lighting. I am able to take good pictures between 11 am and 3pm. Outside of that frame natural lighting causes color and shade problems with my digital cam. I'm using daylight color T5's indoors.

Use the macro camera setting for starters, those settings were made for bonsai.

A good background can change everything.

Thats all the tips I can think of. Most of these are commonly known so I'm not sure if it helps.

 

[leatherback]

I once wrote up how I take pictures. Since then the tarp has been replace by a large black-coated piece of plywood. The rest still applies:
http://www.growingbonsai.net/taking-pictures-of-bonsai/

 

[daudelus]

Camera has but one eye.
This is why the images on Youtube, from Japan, where
the camera moves around the tree is more effective.

A suitable background, lighting from a 45 deg. angle or
overhead if you want to show the mounds [ as seen at
12 noon in reality ].

And image shot from 3 times the distance of the height,
or width of the tree will do the job.

You can also rotate the tree for 4 sides and give an overhead
as well.

There is also an additional feature where a programme
stitches the images together and gives more of a 3d effect.
See AUSbonsai.
Good Day
Anthony

Anthony, what program allows for stitching together? Something like adobe photoshop?

 

[daudelus]

I once wrote up how I take pictures. Since then the tarp has been replace by a large black-coated piece of plywood. The rest still applies:
http://www.growingbonsai.net/taking-pictures-of-bonsai/

Thanks! That is all very helpful information!

 

[Djtommy]

This post from grouper has a little info
https://www.bonsainut.com/threads/bonsai-photography-redux.15818/

 

[LanceMac10]

https://www.bonsainut.com/resources/photographing-bonsai.12/