Last year I spent most of my time honing my skills in post processing, mainly translating what I knew from Photoshop to GIMP plus learning more things in GIMP.
This year I’ve been trying to get back to taking photos rather than just processing them. I’ve been reading a book called, Picture Perfect Lighting, which is helping me get back to basics. It is intended for people photography, but I feel the concepts can be translated to any type of photography.
I was having some issues with my super macro images having really crappy color – I was spending way too much time trying to ‘fix’ it in post, only to feel frustrated and not satisfied.
Over the course of about a week, I’ve been trying out some of the lighting ideas on some cut flowers. Over the next few days I’ll post the better efforts in groups (sorted by type of flower). First up, Gerbera Daisy…
-
- Gerbera Daisy
I’ve been waiting for this one to turn to fluff, but it is just looking really sad… I think Robyn has magical Gerbera Daisies, mine aren’t doing anything except looking like they need to be thrown out.
These two photos were actually taken before I started reading the book… I noticed how pastel this macro shot was, but I have a different Gerbera that the colors just weren’t working out, I’ll post the improved lighting photos of those flowers tomorrow.
Until next time…
~nic
Photography by Nic 
Nice flowers
I just bought that book, btw
It is a really good book, it is a nice refresher for me… I took a few hands-on lighting classes a couple years ago, it is nice to see the information explained in a different way and to have a reference (where in class I was just trying to keep up). I’m on chapter 12, I needed to stop and try out the ideas while the were still in my head, and to make sure they become habit. 🙂
I am reading a book on Nikon Speedlights. I have about 20 unread photography books
I have a bunch of books I *need* to read too, I think I have just started to collect them, but have trouble finding the time to read them… I’m trying to *make* time now. 🙂
Ditto… Sigh.. I need to stop buying them. I am going to buy the new Kindle Oasis
Oh, I also have several digital photo books on my tablet that I need to read, heh 😛
Hey Nic – the very dark blue background will have a lot of impact on your image, reflecting blue light across it and dampening down the quality of the light. One of the things I have been learning in my still life courses is the real value of assessing and analysing your light and not being afraid to shape or assist it with reflector panels etc. Still getting the hang of that myself tho!
The funny thing is, that blue background is actually a white shower curtain (fabric) draped over the back a dark blue mattress cover on a cherry-wood futon… so had the fabric not been there the background would have been a much darker blue with cherry-wood slats… to my eyes it was a white drape, kinda neat how the light went thru the fabric and the blue still reflected back. But I think my problem was really not enough quality light, especially on the super macro images, they just looked grubby and when I tried to fix the color and exposure in post, it made the image too hard and the flower itself was soft and pastel, but that’s not what I was getting, I was getting slightly orangeish areas rather than pink– today’s post is the flower that was giving me trouble with better light, I’m much happier with it.
But you are right, blue (or any other color) will cast a color when it reflects and will alter the colors of your photo. 😀
Natural lighting is the best way to go (I think) Nic… lovely daisies!!
When mine turned to fluff, they had been forgotten, so probably well past this stage… they were also in front of a window, but not a very pretty sight to see, I’m ashamed to say 😉
Oh… they look much worse right now than in the photo… these photos were taken April 3rd, so they are 11 days older now – but I think I had them a few days before I started taking the photos. Just how old were yours?
he he.. I don’t know 😛
Old enough that the stems melted over the edge of the vase! 😀
Oh… well mine aren’t that far yet… was the water dried up too?
There was still some but it was getting low and wasn’t lovely! All in the name of art. You know 😜
Oh Ok, I had been keeping the water fresh. I have now isolated the lesser looking flowers to a different vase with a small amount of water and put it on the window sill, we’ll see if that helps. 😛
He he.. This is an interesting experiment Nic 😃 I had never seen this ‘explosion of fluff’ before. Do hope you can recreate it!
It is, I hope it works too. 😀
👍🏻😃