It’s been a while since I practiced this high-intensity light method, so tonight, since the weather was finally on my side, I went out to the garden to play with it again.
My original plan was to shoot silhouettes of the plants against the bright lamp, but as I got closer, something more interesting appeared. Because leaves scatter light in different ways, they didn’t stay as simple dark shapes. Instead, the strong light passed through them and made them look as if they’d been scanned by an x-ray machine. I could see all the veins clearly, like a tiny roadmap inside each leaf, and every one had its own pattern and personality. It reminded me how unique each piece of nature really is, even when we usually just walk past without noticing.
I spent some time adjusting the angle and exposure until I found settings that worked well with this intense light. Once everything clicked, the leaves started to glow with a soft halo while still keeping those sharp details in the texture. Shooting in black and white made the effect even stronger, turning simple garden plants into dramatic, almost surreal subjects.
Sessions like this are why I keep coming back to photography. With just a lamp, a few leaves, and a bit of curiosity, I’m reminded how amazing nature is and how much fun it is to experiment with light.
Have a good evening, everyone.
~ Andri Cauldwell
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