SUBJECTS: GAS, GRASS OR GLASS
If you’re shooting challenging products like
cartridges or glass, make sure you clean
and wipe everything down before you
shoot. It’s easier to clean the dust off once
than a hundred times later in Photoshop.
Always double-check your products before
you shoot. Think clean! A small photo tent
is a cheap, effective solution for product
photography and works especially well for
controlling reflections while shooting glass. A
circular polarizer can help you control reflec-
tions on plastic and glass (but it won’t help
with metal).
QUALITY PRODUCTS
We had a saying in the Navy: “Shit in, shit out.”
The same concept applies to photography.
Whether you’re shooting frosty colas or the
latest vape cartridge, you need the best prod-
uct to get the best shot. Pick your subjects
carefully, and if you’re shooting flowers, don’t
limit yourself to just shooting finished buds.
Sometimes the immature white hairs will
create amazing photos you could never get
shooting late in the flower stage. Some flow-
ers have the most amazing purple/magenta
pistils that look boring after they die. Don’t
miss out on some great photos just because
no one else is doing it. Think outside the jar!
LET’S SHOOT!
Now it’s time for the fun to begin. You need to
start somewhere, so it makes sense to start
from the beginning of the plant cycle. This is
where the macro lens will come in handy. As
soon as your seedlings pop, set up lights on
each side of the plant. Your biggest obstacle
will be the lens getting in the way of the flash.
Many macro photographers use special ring
lights just for this reason. I’ve found that using
a couple of flashes can work just as well if
you’re careful with placement. You can also
set up next to a big open window and use
natural lighting. The bigger the window, the
softer the light.VEG OUT
Plants spend a great deal of time in the veg-
etative stage, but you rarely see many photos
of them. Vegging plants don’t have the excite-
ment of sticky, trichome-laden colas, but the
photos are still necessary. People love seeing
the entire life cycle of the plant, not just the
finished product. Seedling and veg photos
tell the whole story, not just the ending. A
normal 24-to-70-mm lens is my choice for
generic veg shots. I can get both wide-angle
and close-up shots without having to switch
lenses.
Your biggest challenge will be lighting,
especially if you’re growing indoors. Many
growers use some sort of “screen of green”
technique and can’t move their plants. That
means you may need to bring the lights to
the plants. If you’re shooting outdoors, you
can use the fill-flash technique and shoot
anywhere you want. I prefer to hold my
camera when the light’s bright enough but I
always keep my tripod handy for when the
sun drops. If you’re shooting in a light-assist/
light-dep greenhouse, have the farm turn off
the lights so you can use all-natural lighting.
Some of your best shots can come from
inside a greenhouse using the roof as a giant
soft box. Shadows cease to exist, and every-
thing takes on a wonderful soft feel.OCTOBER 2019 I HIGH TIMES 71Fruitcup Macro
and (below)
Tahoe Mint