I set out this weekend to make\u00a0the Second image for my \u2018One Photograph a month\u2019 pledge and I was clear in my mind what I wanted to do.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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\u00a0the astonishing\u00a0results he achieved.<\/p>\n
You see Niall Photographed his subjects outside in their natural environment\u00a0but using studio techniques, Background, flash lighting, softboxes etc.<\/p>\n
Mr Benvie helpfully\u00a0described 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\u00a0a bit of improvisation and some help from mother nature ( today I needed FULL sun ).<\/p>\n
I had already selected my subject which was a pretty Butter Yellow Primrose that I had in a terracotta pot in my back garden.<\/p>\n
So with plant in hand I set my \u2018outside studio\u2019 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\u00a0be conducive\u00a0to the final result I was after.<\/p>\n
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\u00a0what I wanted.<\/p>\n
One of the things I was missing was a translucent acrylic\u00a0sheet that would give the perfect white background I\u00a0needed when lit from behind with a flash.<\/p>\n
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\u00a0sun.<\/p>\n
For the next 15 minutes I tried a few more set ups but could not achieve\u00a0the result I\u00a0was after then suddenly the sun was out from the cloud cover and my background was glowing a glorious crisp white.<\/p>\n
I managed to get off about half a dozen shots before the sun and myself decided to bring this little\u00a0session to an end.<\/p>\n
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 \u2018outside studio\u2019 again in the near\u00a0future.<\/p>\n
In the mean time enjoy my Primrose shot in\u00a0a makeshift outside studio and I will see you again soon.<\/p>\n
Darren<\/p>\n
Photo Info: Camera: Sony a7ii, Lens 18=55mm, Shutter Speed 1\/200 at f19, ISO 200. Two off camera Flashes with diffusers.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"