GroLen

Looking for suggestions/tips to best capture a Chihuly display at a botanical garden (outside) in the evening. Planning on wide angle and 85 mm lenses. Have found one suggestion of using CPL. Thanks.

Machinedoc Loc: Yorktown Heights, NY

I've shot Chihuiy at the New York Botanical Gardens in the evening on two occasions using a Nikon D7200 and a 50mm f2.8 prime and my 18-140 kit lens with outstanding results. I personally don't think you need a CPL - most of the glass is let internally so there is very little, if any, glare. Tri or mono pod is extremely helpful if allowed.

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

Welcome to the forum. We had a Chihuly dusplay at our arboretum a few years ago. It's not difficult to get good photographs of the glass. The colors are bright and well-saturated. Keep in mind that most of the pieces are large or are part of a group of pieces.

I wouldn't worry about the polarizer for an evening viewing time. The extra two stops of exposure will be more valuable to you.

You will most likely be able to get very close to the glass. A normal lens may be more beneficial than the 85mm. I used a 17-55mm lens on a DX camera and did not use the long end.

It would be good if you could get an idea how the exhibits are going to be lighted. You probably can't do anything about it, but you can be ready for it. In our garden, there was minimal special lighting, so some installations were photographable after dark and others were not. Also get an idea if the installation is really as I've described, or if they did something different this time.

george19

I was fortunate to visit the Chihuly museum in Seattle in October. Indoors was quite easy to shoot, except for the low light in the dark space, but I didn’t get anything memorable when shooting in the garden. Other people, and no control over light and angles, will be your struggles. Late afternoon is your bonus here.

GLSmith Loc: Tampa, Fl

I shot Chihuly in St. Petersburg, Fl at his museum, , Even with high intensity lights overhead, or with light from the bottom or internally, the rooms were dark & no CPL was needed.

wvince

I shot Chihuly at the Dallas Arboretum several years ago. Probably nothing like most of you but I had a blast.

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

I do quite a volume of floral and horticultural photography for the Canadian Department of Agriculture including their Ornamental Gardens. There are many occasions in greenhouses where glass issues exist.

The Circular Polariazg filter (CPL) is oftentimes required to minimize or negate unwanted reflections but not always in every situation. More importantly, the CPL filter is helpful in maintaining good color saturation on foliage, plants, flowers, and other specimens by minimizing or negating surface reflection that tends to desaturate the chroma.

The effectiveness or performance of a CPL, as to the intensity of its effect filter, depends on the angle of incidence, that is the angle at which the light strikes the subject and the position of the camera. Rotating the filter will enable a range of control from zero to the maximum for the lighting direction and camera position.

If you purchase a new CPL filter, make certain it is of good optical quality. In practical terms, the best way to decide if you want or need the filter on any given shot is to place it on the lens, rotate the filter and visually observe the effect.

I do not recommend keeping it on the lens for every shot or every lighting condition. CPL fils also introduce neutral density which means you are going to lose about 2 f/stops.In low light conditions, you may need to boost your ISO or use a slower shutter speed.

You may require a larger diameter filter for a wide-angle lens but you can use an adapter to accommodate your longer lenses.

Of course, the CPL filter is also handy for enhancing skyscapes and general landscape work.

pdsdville Loc: Midlothian, Tx

I used a Sony 16-250 and got excellent results at all ranges. Night shots were spectacular.

Bubba211 Loc: Southport, N. Carolina

use your
phone

JFCoupe Loc: Kent, Washington

In Seattle, I have photographed the Chihuly exhibit a couple of times, both during the daylight hours. Indoors, plan on increasing your ISO to get shutter speeds fast enough to overcome the low light levels. Outdoors, it was generally very bright. A monopod may be okay, but a tripod is a challenge due to others viewing the exhibit.

Generally, a wide to normal lens will work for almost all images.

kenpayne53 Loc: Tacoma, Wa.

Can't wait to see the results, good luck!

kp

Boris77

I have never had any problem photographing a stationary subject like a Chihuly display, because the lighting at a public garden IS set up for viewing and display. Reflections at night are not normally a problem because Chihuly is THE lit subject and its internal reflections add to its interest.
Only suggestion is to view the exhibits during daylight to see how they are set up, where the lights are, and where you can expect to get to to take pictures. It makes it much easier to photograph multiple displays if you have a plan. Personally I use a mid range zoom; not a fan of wide angle, esp when among other viewers.
Boris

tomc601 Loc: Gilbert, AZ

Shot at Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix. 1.3s, f7.1, ISO 200. I did use a tripod. There should be plenty of light but I recommend using a tripod.

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Boris77

It is common practice in St Louis Mo Botanical Gardens to ban tripods during night viewing (I agree due to aging vision).
In the past they have had special photography nights where they charge more, and it is safer. I was happy with the stabilization built into my camera, and occasionally adding a post or tree to be my third leg.
Boris

Vladimir200 Loc: Beaumont, Ca.

I did an inside Chihuly shot in Seattle a few years back. At first, I used a wide angle but still missed some of what I wanted to shoot so I went outside, changed to a fisheye lens, yes, a fisheye 15 mm Sigma, and went back to shoot and grabbed everything. Yes, a fisheye will distort somewhat but I did capture the beauty of Chihuly. Only suggestion I have for outside is that you may get some shadows you don't want so consider using a flash. Have fun.