Night Blooming Cereus: My night blooming cereus will blossom in about a week. I have photographed it for the past 2 year but no outstanding pictures resulted. It opens sometime between...

ssohl Loc: NJ

My night blooming cereus will blossom in about a week. I have photographed it for the past 2 year but no outstanding pictures resulted. It opens sometime between nine and midnight so I either have to have lights on or use a flash. Any ideas?

Haydon

I'd use a flash and preferably off camera flash. If you don't have a transmitter, use a flash cord to create some dramatic lighting. On camera creates flat lighting, off camera will accentuate texture and shadows in my opinion.

Jay Pat Loc: Round Rock, Texas, USA

I don't have any tips.
Looked on google images and it is a beautiful flower.
I hope you get some great shots and post them!!
Pat

ssohl Loc: NJ

Thanks. I'm going to try that!

cmc65

ssohl wrote:

Thanks. I'm going to try that!

Looking forward to seeing this.

Bill Houghton Loc: New York area

I'm not sure of the money sistuation, as mentioned and off camera flash, speed light, order for you particular camera, a good knock off would be about 60 bucks and up.

ssohl Loc: NJ

I actually have a sb 600 speed light and never thought about using in off camera. I'm going to practice and give it a shot. Thanks for your suggestions. I post some pictures afterwards.

davidrb Loc: Half way there on the 45th Parallel

ssohl wrote:

My night blooming cereus will blossom in about a week. I have photographed it for the past 2 year but no outstanding pictures resulted. It opens sometime between nine and midnight so I either have to have lights on or use a flash. Any ideas?

The only light you need use is the flash. You are trying to capture something that is dependent upon light, natural light & dark triggering something in nature. The bloom is impressive, give yourself the chance to see it. Artificial lighting can interrupt the bloom cycle, so you might consider sitting in the dark or very low light. You can use lighting other than flash, but if you have it, flaunt it. Have fun, and please share if you are successful. GL

hcmcdole

ssohl wrote:

My night blooming cereus will blossom in about a week. I have photographed it for the past 2 year but no outstanding pictures resulted. It opens sometime between nine and midnight so I either have to have lights on or use a flash. Any ideas?

Get a day blooming cactus? Just kidding.

I hope you can get some good pictures with a flash - keep trying different angles and playing with power settings. If you can get it off camera it will make a bigger impact than on like others have already said.

My cactus (think it is Cereus repandus from Walmart) bloomed a few weeks ago. Huge blooms but stayed open until about 9 to 10 AM. Still used a high ISO to do handheld shots.

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

ssohl wrote:

My night blooming cereus will blossom in about a week. I have photographed it for the past 2 year but no outstanding pictures resulted. It opens sometime between nine and midnight so I either have to have lights on or use a flash. Any ideas?

I would try a light box to soften the flash, which I would try to use indirectly. You might also use a silver reflector for some lower back light.

MrT Loc: Gilbert, AZ

The Softer the light the better. A light box or something big and white to use as a reflector. Does the SB600 have the IR controls so you can use it off camera and use your on camera pop-up flash as a controller? I'm just starting to use my SB-910 off camera with my D7000/800 Not good yet but the results look better than on the camera. I have a monopod with three legs that can be used as lightstand. It gives much more control of how the light looks. Most importantly HAVE FUN.

firtree Loc: Florida, USA

When you can actually get to them, I set up my ladder and use flashlights angled in for side lighting. Just a thought.

rxrose Loc: North Florida

ssohl wrote:

My night blooming cereus will blossom in about a week. I have photographed it for the past 2 year but no outstanding pictures resulted. It opens sometime between nine and midnight so I either have to have lights on or use a flash. Any ideas?

You might be able to use a tripod and long exposure with ISO 100 or 200 but I would practice ahead of time to get the correct exposure time.

catfish252

Just a suggestion, if you want to try something new -- light painting came to mind when I read your entry. On a dark night, use bulb mode with your camera on a tripod, I would start with ISO 100, shutter of F/8-11, you can use a LED flashlight while the shutter is open to paint the bloom. There are many tutorials on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Light+painting+flowers

That is a gorgeous flower I would imagine that any of the suggestions here would make for a beautiful image.

phlash46 Loc: Westchester County, New York

ssohl wrote:

My night blooming cereus will blossom in about a week. I have photographed it for the past 2 year but no outstanding pictures resulted. It opens sometime between nine and midnight so I either have to have lights on or use a flash. Any ideas?

Is it like this?

(Download)