I set out this weekend to make the Second image for my ‘One Photograph a month’ pledge and I was clear in my mind what I wanted to do.
I had recently read an article about a photographer called Niall Benvie who went out into the countryside and photographed various plants, birds and animals.
Nothing unusual about that I hear you say, but it was his approach to the job in hand that got my attention and I was intrigued by the way he made his images and particularly the astonishing results he achieved.
You see Niall Photographed his subjects outside in their natural environment but using studio techniques, Background, flash lighting, softboxes etc.
Mr Benvie helpfully described in the article the equipment he used, and after doing a inventory of what I had, I knew that I was missing a couple of pieces of kit but was pretty sure I could get close to his results with the equipment I had at my disposal as well as a bit of improvisation and some help from mother nature ( today I needed FULL sun ).
I had already selected my subject which was a pretty Butter Yellow Primrose that I had in a terracotta pot in my back garden.
So with plant in hand I set my ‘outside studio’ up on my Patio table and got ready to shoot. It was at that point the sun disappeared behind a considerably large cloud and the white background suddenly became off-white in colour which would not be conducive to the final result I was after.
Regardless of this I tried some test shots, Moving the subject, background, flash and diffuses around, trying different heights and different distances. This went on for about half an hour and I could not get close to what I wanted.
One of the things I was missing was a translucent acrylic sheet that would give the perfect white background I needed when lit from behind with a flash.
The absence of this sheet was the reason I was relying on the sun to light my glossy white background to give me a similar effect. But the sun had deserted me and as much as I tried I could not get that effect with one flash and no help from the sun.
For the next 15 minutes I tried a few more set ups but could not achieve the result I was after then suddenly the sun was out from the cloud cover and my background was glowing a glorious crisp white.
I managed to get off about half a dozen shots before the sun and myself decided to bring this little session to an end.
Although I am fairly happy with the result I got, I know it could be much better. So I am planning on getting that translucent white acrylic background and attempting the whole ‘outside studio’ again in the near future.
In the mean time enjoy my Primrose shot in a makeshift outside studio and I will see you again soon.
Darren
Photo Info: Camera: Sony a7ii, Lens 18=55mm, Shutter Speed 1/200 at f19, ISO 200. Two off camera Flashes with diffusers.
