For Friday Finds this week I’ve been playing around with a minimalist style of botanical and high key photography. High key photography uses unnaturally bright lighting to blow out most or all harsh shadows in an image.
Let me tell you it is not easy but it forced me to slow down and really look at what I was doing.
I love the part about gathering materials and arranging them; there’s something so soothing about order and simplicity. I had to stop, look, and listen (be still).
Each of these four images was taken separately at different times of the day.
I set the plants on a piece of foam core outside out of direct sunlight, and set my camera on a tripod over top of them. I used low shutter speeds, high ISO’s, and apertures between F9 and F11. I also used a flash at times (gasp).
Even then I had lots of processing to do. I took them into LR and used curves to adjust the white background while limiting the effect on the plant itself. Those shadows are tricky!!
When I created the collage in Photoshop of course the whites were all different – if you hover your mouse over the image you will see the “before” collage. So again I used a combination of curves and levels adjustments. Then I dodged some pesky areas.
I was inspired by this beautiful blog Still by Mary Jo Hoffman. Her work blows me away and she’s a kind person who likes to share her techniques.
Anyway I shall not go on and on. I simply wanted to share that I’ve “found” something that makes me feel passionate. I’ve always loved this style but only tinkered with it. Now I want to learn more.
Side note: any images you may see on my Instagram feed were taken solely with my phone and edited in PicsPlayPro.
Now I’m off to see what everyone else has discovered this week.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Wonderful collage! Each image makes me stop and look closer at the details. Love it!
These really turned out so nicely Barb, I also love high key a lot and don’t do enough of it. Thank you for the link can’t wait to check her work out. So glad to hear you say that about IG that is one thing that has been turning me off of IG lately is not seeing iPhone images there but big girl images. I enjoyed IG because of the mobile photography not for seeing big girl images.
These are stunning Barb they look as if they should be in a book…
really nicely done!
Fantastic!! Love them
fantastic! and I knew as soon as I saw these that you must have been following mary jo hoffman…her creations are inspiring!
I’ve been trying to get my grays out of my photos back grounds and now you have turned me to a new direction — thanks tons..
Hugs
Love your blog. Visiting from Be Still 52.
Gorgeous! I love the light background letting the subject be the total focus!
I’ve always admired her stuff and did a simple shot last week. Ought to post it. I love yours!
I love these- they are beautiful! I checked out the Still Blog- very inspiring! I’ve done some high key images before, but these have a special look- thanks for sharing your process!
Great work on these.
What a pretty group this is, Barb.
Very nicely done.
I LOVE how you processed these Barb. And yes…they should be in a book