Lightbox photo of Pothos

[CaliforniaPeggy]

[MLAA]

1. Beautiful!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. Wow, my dear MLAA!

I can't remember anyone responding this quickly to my having posted a photo! You came in nearly at the same exact time.

[MLAA]

4. I was waiting for you to post one of of great shots 🙂

[magicarpet]

3. Variegated, my goodness doesn't that black background make it stand out like it is floating in air..

[CaliforniaPeggy]

5. Thank you, my dear magicarpet!

That was the effect I was looking for.

That was a technique that AndyS taught me . . .

[Bernardo de La Paz]

6. Light box or light tent?

Placing a plant on a lightbox would make a bright background and translucency. Such lightboxes have been the source of the alternate name for "gallery" in web design.

Perhaps you placed the plant in a light tent to illuminate it and used a black background.

Or are you meaning "lightbox" in a gardening sense, rather than the photographic term "lightbox"?

Old fashioned lightbox:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

7. Ah, my dear Bernardo!

It's a light box. It consists of a structure with interlocking plastic tubes which are covered with a fabric cover. The plant is inside and there are several rows of tiny lights embedded inside the top of the box. There is a switch wired in that extends outside that allows me to adjust how much light shines on the object being photographed.

There are different colors of paper backgrounds that can be fastened inside; I generally use black. The plant itself is draped in black velvet which hides the rest!

So there you have it! I hope you like my little creation. Andy suggested that I get such a box. He had one that was so big that he could get inside it. His idea was to make a picture, not take a picture.

The lightbox you showed me in your post is nothing like mine.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

15. I do like your creation. Well done.

Of course terminology is flexible and defined by reality, not the other way around. I might think of your setup as a modified light tent, but it doesn't matter. In the final analysis, your photo speaks for itself. Thanks for describing the setup.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

16. My pleasure! And thank you for responding as well.

I appreciate your taking the time to talk to me.

[Diamond_Dog]

8. The effect is beautiful. The dark background really makes the greens pop!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

9. Thanks so much, my dear Diamond_Dog!

My thoughts exactly! (So much for modest responses!)

[Diamond_Dog]

10. That was something Andy mentioned to me once. Black backgrounds.

Hey you know a good image when you see one, nothing wrong with that!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

11. Absolutely right! He was so good, thinking on his feet, all the time.

He knew that we instinctively see good compositions and when we do, catch it in a photo!

[Mousetoescamper]

12. I'm glad to see that you're experimenting with the lightbox again.

The background and lighting bring more depth and life to the subject.

I'd forgotten about the lightbox I built--with Andy's encouragement--using a cardboard box and mini-LED spotlights. I used it for a few photos posted here. Your post has given me some ideas for winter projects.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

13. Aw, thank you so much, my dear Mousetoescamper . . .

I've had some trouble motivating myself, as you most likely know, especially today.

This Pothos was growing in a water-filled vase in my kitchen window, and I noticed how graceful the leaves looked. Then I thought lightbox! And here we are.

I'm glad that Andy inspired you, and then I did. It's a bittersweet feeling.

[Callalily]

14. Very nice!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

17. Thanks so much, my dear Callalily!