burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Kudzu is hard to photograph up close. It is a fast-growing, creeping vine, with no natural enemies here in the USA. It came to us from Japan by agricultural accident, as I recall.

Often we see photos of Kudzu that has taken over abandoned houses and barns along backroads of the rural South. It conveys a sense that, "The world has passed us by."

Kudzu is a nutrient-rich plant that has been studied by many for its potential use as a superfood. It contains 15% to 18% crude protein. Goats and pigs can be unleashed to clear it.

The other Kudzu was a daily comic strip by Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial cartoonist Doug Marlette about rural Southerners. Doug's home paper was initially the Charlotte Observer, which I subscribed to. I read that hilarious cartoon from 1981 to 2007, his entire run of it. Check it out online. Doug had a biting political wit and did not suffer fools gladly. He speared idiots on the left and the right equally well.

srt101fan

I had forgotten about the kudzu comic strip. Thanks for reminding me!

srt101fan

So, on the serious side of this topic, here are the posted suggestions for tackling kudzu with a camera:

Orphoto - “How about locating a vulnerable subject at the margins, about to be smothered. Getting down low and wide. Emphasize the difference in sizes.”

R.G. – “It sounds like getting in close and shooting wide while including some background is what's needed. With a wide angle lens you can give the impression that the background goes on for ever, and it doesn't have to be pin sharp (but it does need to be recognisable).”

wjones8637 – “I would first find an area where the under structure varies in height giving a waviness to the covering vines. Then shoot early or late to take advantage of shadows.”

Linda From Maine – “This would be a perfect subject for side lighting and shadows. Or maybe you can find something under a streetlight or during a full moon, to shoot at night….a recognizable subject only partially covered - as mentioned by Orphoto earlier - would be a good goal….”

rook2c4 – “I'd photograph it as a series.”

dpullum had some thoughts on post-processing a kudzu image including adding body parts.

rodbarr suggests that the old wood of abandoned farmhouses that have been partially engulfed by kudzu can provide a striking contrast with the vibrant green of the plant.

User ID seems to think that you can’t depict kudzu as a menace but then also suggested black & white infrared or color/tone inversion.

Thanks to all for these good suggestions and all the interesting facts and light-hearted comments about this amazing plant. I enjoyed the conversation!

User ID

Yup. Cool thread. Both useful and amusing. Good mix.

Blues Dude

I've lived in the Deep South for over 40 years, so I'm familiar with kudzu, which is very fast growing.
So if you want to take scary pictures of it, just kneel down for a few minutes and then take selfies as you try to escape.

srt101fan