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Learning How to Photograph Flowers on a Lightbox

August 3, 2024

This time of year there are lots of packages arriving by mail. When a package arrives, everyone is either trying to squirrel it away before being seen or they are trying to catch a glimpse of what someone else is hiding. We are ridiculous about this.

A couple days ago a box arrived when I was home alone. It wasn’t addressed to me, and I swear I wasn’t purposefully snooping. I swear.  But it wasn’t double boxed and it was obviously a light box (Big label on the side gave it away).  I know it is meant for me… but regardless, I’m playing cool.  Like I don’t know.

BUT… I am sooo excited about this and I can’t wait to try out some new photography!

Light Box Flower Photography by Ngoc Minh No
I’m excited to try photographing flowers with a lightbox – these beautiful images by Ngoc Minh Ngo are inspiring me.

Did you read the story about how to hack an old printer into a lightbox in the last issue of P+V?

Light Box Flower Photography by Ngoc Minh No

It was completely inspired by these shots by Ngoc Minh Ngo.  I think they are magical and I want to experiment with creating some of my own.

Playing with backlight – achieved in a variety of ways, but most commonly by placing plants and flowers on an actual light box in order to illuminate them and create a transparency effect – is about to be my newest side hobby.

Artist Harold Davis has some tips for shooting plants and flowers on a lightbox box and then transforming the images through some post-processing into something magical.  It sounds a little complicated according to his directions and I am hoping it isn’t as tricky as it sounds.  Otherwise I am on my own to experiment and figure out a technique that creates something I am happy with.  I’ll share if I can.

Light Box Flower Photography by Ngoc Minh No
A lightbox backlight is a lighting source placed behind a translucent surface to provide even illumination for displaying images or text (on flowers – like this pretty pink rose). Commonly used in photography and graphic design, a lightbox backlight enhances visibility and luminance.
Light Box Flower Photography by Ngoc Minh No
Shooting flowers on a lightbox (in this case a peony) is photographic technique to capture detailed and vivid images of blooming flowers using a camera. This involves adjusting settings such as aperture, shutter speed, and focus to highlight the beauty and colors of the flowers. The process requires patience and creativity to produce stunning images.

Have you tried photographing transparent items like this?  I’d love to hear your tips if you have any…. after Christmas, of course.
Images by Ngoc Minh Ngo

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