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04/23/2007 11:49:16 PM · #1 |
My student owns his own flower shop. He recently bought a Nikon D40. He asked me what I thought would be better for photographing his flowers, sun light or using a flash. He plans on putting his flowers on his website (Once he gets it running) and isn't sure whether to take his flowers outside on a clear day and just use the sun, or if he should add a flash to it, or if he should just use a flash inside.
I'm not sure what would look best. I told him to check other websites to see what they do. He said they had all sorts of crappy pictures and couldn't find anything professional (For Osaka). So, I wondered what everyone elses take would be? |
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04/23/2007 11:55:26 PM · #2 |
| Both can work well. Sun is the cheaper route. You'd want to have him get (buy or make) a diffuser and some reflectors. Flash has the advantage of being able to be used at any time regardless of if the sun is out and once you get the setup actually set up then he could assembly line the photos quite efficiently. Flash would usually still require some diffusion and reflectors. |
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04/23/2007 11:56:23 PM · #3 |
| well i woud recommend the sun light, at dawn |
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04/24/2007 12:00:48 AM · #4 |
I don't know much about photographing setups of flowers, which seems what you're talking about, but  banmorn might be able to help. He's really good at photographing flowers.
When I make images of flowers, I really prefer natural light, but not direct sunlight, it's way too harsh. I like a bright overcast day, or early morning/late evening sunshine. Or sometimes indoors by a bright window. For a north facing window, using white board for reflection (sort of like a big white box by the window). For other windows, I try to get it so that the subject is in the bright area just next to where the sunshine comes through the window, and use a small reflector (I like gold) to get light on the subject.
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04/24/2007 12:08:28 AM · #5 |
| He certainly doesn't have the money for an expensive setup. I told him to practice with the light he has (The sun) on different times of the day and with different weather to see what he likes. I think he wants a consistant style. If he uses sun light, he'll want that for all his flowers. If he uses a flash inside, then he'll do that with all of his flowers. I guess he's looking for something that would 'sell' his flowers. |
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04/24/2007 12:17:11 AM · #6 |
| Use a white sheet of paper reflect the light the way you want it and shoot without flash. If you really need a flash, use layers filter paper over your flash to soften the flash. Just some techniques I use. |
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04/24/2007 02:12:34 AM · #7 |
| As Rene mentioned long light such as at dusk and dawn is really nice. It's gives things a warm glow to them. Avoid direct sunlight at high noon. Too harsh and contrasty. If he must shoot at noon, shoot in the shade with reflected light. |
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05/04/2007 12:02:39 AM · #8 |
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05/04/2007 12:24:22 AM · #9 |
I've had good resulsts with both, depends on the outdoor lighting.
This was taken with a flash bounced off of a reflector in my hand.
This was taken on a relatively cloudy day, with a bit of sun poking through.
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05/04/2007 12:35:22 AM · #10 |
Posterboard is invaluable to those of us on zero budgets for reflectors.
Binder clips are great for holding the paper on ... whatever! |
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05/04/2007 12:45:40 AM · #11 |
Originally posted by BeeCee:
Posterboard is invaluable to those of us on zero budgets for reflectors.
Binder clips are great for holding the paper on ... whatever! |
That's a great tip! Thanks. I've been using duck tape, and it's not too practical for this - stuff keeps falling over. Clips it is from now on :) |
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05/04/2007 12:48:19 AM · #12 |
Originally posted by BeeCee:
Posterboard is invaluable to those of us on zero budgets for reflectors.
Binder clips are great for holding the paper on ... whatever! |
I use binder clips (Staples calls them 'Office Clips") all the time in all different sizes! LOL! Yep! Heck I even use them for Chip Clips! LOL!
Message edited by author 2007-05-04 00:49:21. |
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05/04/2007 02:12:35 AM · #13 |
Hey thats cool, my wife and I own 2 flower shops in Portland Oregon. I just finished building a small studio in the back.
What kind of images is he looking to shoot? I still enjoy shooting in the field, but love the contraol aspect of a studio and lighting.
Here are some outsides:
 ... 
And some studio:
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Here are some older product shots:
Tropical
Roses
Lates
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05/06/2007 07:23:45 AM · #14 |
Personally I think sunlight is the best option there will ever be. It makes the nicest shadows I find... but then again, it depends on what you're going for. If you want deep shadows and big contrast between light/dark then a flash would be perfect, just be careful to not overdo it.
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