Lately, I've been trying to find new ways to challenge myself, photographically speaking (I can't handle too many challenges at once, so I've moved over to lace-less shoes for a while). I've been doing an awful lot of panoramas to try and avoid producing too much in the way of formulaic work, and this kept me happy for a while, but I've been itching for something that would make me think on my feet.
This came last week in the form of a request from my local Bonsai growers group. If you think photography takes training and dedication, you should talk to some of these guys. Some of the trees I shot were over seventy years old, and have become a cross between family heirlooms and pets.
The set-ups were different for most of the trees, and I was surprised by how much it felt like portraiture. Each tree had it's own distinct character, and had to be lit on a different way. After shooting several of the typical six-inch trees, I was faced with this monster, a 'miniature' yew at a whopping three feet tall! I ended up using four remote speedlights in various combinations, all triggered from the camera by infrared. If you're looking for something a bit different, I can recommend it. I had an average of five minutes per tree, and a constant audience. Great for keeping the pressure on.
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