We’re DIY fanatics here at Digital Camera World, and in this tutorial we show you how to create your own home-made light box to capture beautiful backlit photos of flowers.
You don’t need specialist lights or flashguns to photograph flowers indoors. In this project we’re going au naturel by creating our very own light box using a sheet of greaseproof paper and taking advantage of window light.
By sticking the semi-opaque paper to a large window, we’re essentially creating a mini portable home studio. The paper is thin enough to let light filter through and acts as a diffuser, while providing us with a clean white backdrop for our subjects.
We’re going to be shooting some flowers and, by using this technique, we’ll be backlighting our subjects to reveal patterns and colours in the petals, leaves and stem. It’s a simple but effective way of capturing delicate details that might otherwise be lost.
The key to this technique is to avoid direct sunlight, as we want evenly lit exposures, so a north-facing window is your best bet. Grab some greaseproof paper and let’s get started…
01 Let there be light!
To make your light box, simply stick a large piece of greaseproof paper to a window with some tape. Choose a window out of direct sunlight, which allows room for you to work with a tripod. Place your subject in a vase on a window sill, chair or table.
02 Aperture priority
Set Aperture Priority (Av) mode for full control over the aperture, then a narrow aperture, such as f/8-16, for enough depth of field to capture the focal point of your subject sharply. This will vary, depending on the shape and size of your subject.
03 Subject matter
Set ISO100 for noise-free shots, and your camera will select an appropriate shutter speed. Position your subject (we’ve used a colourful tulip) in front of the greaseproof paper, either in a vase, or even stuck to the paper using some clear tape.
04 Full support
As we’re indoors using a narrow aperture, chances are the camera’s shutter speed won’t be fast enough for you to shoot handheld. So use a tripod to support your camera and enable Live View mode to help you compose and focus your shots.
05 Compensate the exposure
When your camera meters for a backlit subject, it will attempt to render the bright background as a midtone, leaving your images underexposed. Dial in +1 stop of exposure compensation, take a test shot, and then add more if required.
06 Compose and focus
With Live View enabled, zoom in to the focal point at 10x magnification and twist the manual focus ring on the lens to bring it into sharp focus. Use a remote shutter release (or 2-sec Self-timer) to avoid jogging the camera during the exposure.
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