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PHOTOGRAPHING BONSAI TREES


Keep a photographic record of your trees to help you keep track of your progress.



Here are some tips on photographing your Bonsai trees to their best advantage.


  1. For formal photos, take the time to clean the pot, remove loose material from the soil surface and surrounding area, and remove wind-blown material from the foliage. Avoid distracting objects in the background. These are all much more noticeable afterward in a photo.
  2. Set your digital camera to the highest quality image setting. Size does matter, the more pixels you capture, the more options you'll have when editing and cropping.
  3. Use a tripod. The slightest motion can blur your photo.

Place the tree against a neutral background.

A roll-up window blind, white bed sheet, or black cloth make good backdrops.

Pick a bright, overcast day, or if it’s sunny, place your tree in the shade to avoid harsh shadows and uneven lighting.

Make sure the trees’ formal front is facing the camera.

Place the camera, so it is level with the visual centre of the tree.

Do not tilt the camera up, down, left, or right. Photos of bonsai look best in formal one-point perspective.

Don’t crop the tree too tightly in the viewfinder.

Leave some space all around the tree.



Choose a vantage point and distance you can match and repeat when photographing the same tree over time. Although it is the formal front you want to share with others, photographs of the sides and back are good records. Consider a video of the tree on a rotating platform.

 

If indoors, light the tree from the top and left or right side. Try to avoid harsh shadows created by the automatic flash. If you don’t have auxiliary lights, many cameras can be fitted with a diffuser that fits over the built-in flash that creates soft shadows. A white card can reflect light from one side to fill in shadows on the opposite side.


Review your photos on a large screen before you take down your setup. Make sure all parts of the tree are in focus. You can easily take another photo if you notice any flaws or technical issues.







Do you need some inspiration? While this video shows how to photograph a shoe, the advice, instructions, and inexpensive equipment will work for bonsai. But remember, position the tree to show its formal front.


DIY Product Photos—Easy, Cheap and Good-looking


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