Veratrum leaves after a rain
Feb, 2015Views
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Contest Finalist in Monochrome Macro Photo Contest
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Behind The Lens
Location
This photo was taken in the Wasatch Mountains of Central Utah. The plant, Veratrum californicum (Skunk cabbage, or Corn lily), grows as an understory species in shady aspen forests.Time
I wanted to avoid direct sunlight, which would have produced harsh contrasts, so I took the photo early in the morning before the sun was above the eastern horizon.Lighting
Due to the time of day, the lighting was very flat, avoiding blown-out highlights and inpenetrable shadows.Equipment
I used a manual Canon FD 50mm macro lens mounted on a Sony NEX 5n body that has been converted to infrared light capture. The infrared sensitivity of the camera registers healthy green foliage as nearly white.Inspiration
Veratrum has been a favorite photographic subject for a very long time. The large, folded leaves of the plant create beautiful patterns that are irresistible for photographers.Editing
The photograph didn't need a lot of post-processing. My modified NEX 5n is only sensitive to infrared light, and it directly produces a monochrome image. It was simply a matter of cropping and adjusting the contrast a bit in PhotoShop.In my camera bag
When weight is not an issue, I use a Nikon D800E camera, using with a wide-angle lens of some kind attached. But if I need something smaller and lighter, I often use a mirrorless camera (either a Canon EOS-M or a Sony A6000). But I often bring my infrared converted Sony NEX 5n along in case I run into a subject that looks interesting in infrared.Feedback
In my view, the most important thing to keep in mind is the time of day. Had I tried to take this photo later in the day, with the sun directly hitting the leaves, the final image would have had a completely different look - and not nearly as interesting. Flat lighting is often under-appreciated in photography.
