I was given a 2x4 foot bunch of this plant after the hurricanes of 2004 and I tied it it up to my pine to it could catch hold and grow. Well, I have multiple blossoms getting ready to bloom. This plant, as its name says... only blooms at night. What is the best way?
I can run a cord with a clamp light or even a pole type lamp out there... thinking that would be better than using flash. I do not do night photography. Should I set the camera manually or both. I know for me it will be trial and error.
(edit)Online searching tells me that it starts to close at sunrise... that means getting out there in the early morning. I saw photos done with flash and did not like them... that means a timed exposure. There is a street light near by....
It really depends on what you are looking for. Off camera flash could be an excellent option as long as it is diffused and softened up enough. With a pair of flash units I have seen some very dramatic images of this and other flowers. You might want to take a gander at www.strobist.com for some ideas on how to light up this flower. Keep in mind that the background will be just as important as the flower itself, regardless of the lighting method you select. Use a mat board that is dark gray or black placed behind the flower to isolate it, especially if you are using a small aperture for maximum depth of field. I have seen at least one website where the photographer used a black bucket with appropriate cut outs to hold the stems to stabilize the flowers and provide a dark, detail-less background ( http://digital-photography-school.com/the-bucket-method-for-photographing-flowers ) for some very nice images. Yes, I agree that on-camera undiffused light will give less than satisfactory results.
Thanks for the links and input. I have since learned that if any major light is used, that it may start the closing of the flower! From the amount of buds forming, it looks like I may have a number of opportunities to try my luck. It can be quite a large flower... 10 inches across and that may give some problem with the bucket, but being a gardener, I have an assortment of black buckets I can adapt.
You could wait for the full moon this weekend. That might a great natural setting too. A reflector or two might give it some more light. If you do add light just make sure it's at least some what close to moon light which is around 3500 to 4000 degrees kelvin temperature. Moon light always seems blue but it isn't. A day light bulb would be a pretty close option or an LED bulb.
I would try it first w/ out any extra lighting the 3 nights around the full moon. Make sure you photograph it at some of an angle to the moonlight to give it some depth with shadows. Just make sure you get the shadows on the histogram. You might have to overexpose since the meter always seems to under exposure stuff at night. Try to keep the histogram in the middle to avoid noise. The hardest might be exposing for the shadows. If you don't have a reflector a small mirror might work. Just make sure it doesn't overpower the moonlight so you might have to back it away. Don't forget to experiment with the differnt angles like from below and looking up at what it's connected to for a different look. Hope there isn't any wind but with in 3 nights you should get lucky.
Also, try shoooting it shortly after sunset, when there is still some natural light around. It will put the flowers in a bit more of a natural context without having a dead black background.
A long exposure with the moon's light , since the plant will no be moving, should work. I get very good images of moonbows with only natural light at night.
start playing with it now, just gettng an exposure of 1-3 minutes on the plant, even befor flowers.
Several good articles on "night digital photography" on the net will give basics.
Good luck!
These flowers do not open til it gets DARK and by 5 am they were already closing. We had too much wind last night as it was thundering and getting ready to storm. I will post a flash image in flora. The bloom was 12 inches across and so the bucket would have to be huge for that technique to work!!
Discussion
7 repliesI can run a cord with a clamp light or even a pole type lamp out there... thinking that would be better than using flash. I do not do night photography. Should I set the camera manually or both. I know for me it will be trial and error.
(edit)Online searching tells me that it starts to close at sunrise... that means getting out there in the early morning. I saw photos done with flash and did not like them... that means a timed exposure. There is a street light near by....
Suggestions needed.
I would try it first w/ out any extra lighting the 3 nights around the full moon. Make sure you photograph it at some of an angle to the moonlight to give it some depth with shadows. Just make sure you get the shadows on the histogram. You might have to overexpose since the meter always seems to under exposure stuff at night. Try to keep the histogram in the middle to avoid noise. The hardest might be exposing for the shadows. If you don't have a reflector a small mirror might work. Just make sure it doesn't overpower the moonlight so you might have to back it away. Don't forget to experiment with the differnt angles like from below and looking up at what it's connected to for a different look. Hope there isn't any wind but with in 3 nights you should get lucky.
Steve S.
start playing with it now, just gettng an exposure of 1-3 minutes on the plant, even befor flowers.
Several good articles on "night digital photography" on the net will give basics.
Good luck!
Sandy
Sandy.. I will check the night photo link thanks.
Not sure this link will work as it shows the flower opening and closing during the night, but I wanted to try... it does!