ppage Loc: Pittsburg, (San Francisco area)

I made a lightbox studio out of a big cardboard box. Cut "windows" out of each side and lined them with a white shower curtain liner. Put my camera on a tripod with a 55-250 kit lens on my canon t5i and shot the first bloom of the season on one of my wife's Orchid plants with a strobe positioned at each side window. Whaddya say? Comments and tips appreciated!

Thanks,

(Download)

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

Pretty nice. I like shooting Orchids at botanical gardens in say a green house. I've thought in the future of trying it at home. It is not feasible for me to buy and try to keep live orchid plants alive in Southern California - too hot and dry. But we will be moving near the beach eventually. Personally I am not fond of using strobes or flash. I much prefer natural or available lighting. Now that could include Constant artificial light. THOUGH, I have been happy in the past with using Soft-Boxes with flash in a commercial or professional photo studio. Problem with flash often is hot spots and flare. Having do so in classes I've taken.

Your set up has potential. It just might need some adjustment of angle or distance of lights from "windows" to make for the most even light. Also it might be better to not shoot straight into the flower. Keep at it.

lesdmd Loc: Middleton Wi via N.Y.C. & Cleveland

Several suggestions: I prefer to black out backgound and simultaneously increase depth of field by increasing shutter speed and aperture. Strobes then become only source of lighting. I find your “brights” too bright; and the shadows on the petals and unopened blossoms too deep. They can be balanced out by where strobes are placed and how they are set. I prefe using a radio system to fire the strobes so I can move around with them and create various lighting effects.

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

Nice image
Just a tad "hot" needs less light.

ppage Loc: Pittsburg, (San Francisco area)

Thank-You for your thoughts! Good information. We grow them in our kitchen window where they get a lot of indirect sun. My wife is surprised. She's had so much luck with orchids.A lot of folks use continuous lighting on these boxes; an Led lamp on each side, like that. I will probably try both ways. The subject goes inside the box which is sort of dark so artificial light is a must.

ppage Loc: Pittsburg, (San Francisco area)

I agree with your findings. This will take more experimentation with shutter and aperture and light placement/intensity to get it looking better. Exactly the comments I was looking for though.
Thanks! I have a RF controller on my hot shoe. I have complete control of the strobes right from the camera.

ppage Loc: Pittsburg, (San Francisco area)

Agreed, will take more experimentation! Thanks,

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

It is a nice photograph and a beautiful one. You have been rewarded by your efforts.
Because of the compression the image lost some sharpness but you know that is easily fixed.

Boxcar21

It's a nice technique, called "Tenting". It has all types of configurations (For stationary subjects.)

JoAnneK01 Loc: Lahaina, Hawaii

Need more depth of field so you can keep the whole philanopsis in focus.

ppage Loc: Pittsburg, (San Francisco area)

I was at f/8. Would you say f/16 or higher? Thanks,