Journal2 min read
How to Photograph Your Garden Ornaments (Smartphone Guide)
Short answer: To photograph a garden ornament with a phone, shoot in soft light, on a bright cloudy day or in open shade, with the camera at the ornament's own eye level. Choose a plain background of leaves, stone or a wall, tap the screen to focus on the face, and move closer instead of zooming.
Looking for the pieces themselves? See our unusual garden ornaments.
What light is best?
Soft light. A bright cloudy day, open shade or the hour after sunrise and before sunset give gentle shadows. Midday sun makes hard shadows and bright patches on pale stone.
What angle should you use?
Crouch to the ornament's eye level. Shooting down from standing height makes it look small. Try one photo straight on and one from a little to the side.
How do you choose a background?
Plain and calm: green leaves, a wall, a stone step. Move bins, hoses and tools out of the frame. Portrait mode on many phones softens the background.
Which phone settings help?
- Tap the face to focus, then slide the brightness down a little if the stone looks washed out.
- Move closer rather than zooming in.
- Turn the grid on to keep walls and steps level.
- Wipe the lens first.
What changes through the year?
Spring flowers and autumn leaves give colour around pale stone; frost and low winter sun give texture. One ornament photographed in the same spot each season makes a good set.
Questions
What is the best light for photographing garden ornaments?
Soft light: a bright cloudy day, open shade, or early or late in the day.
How do you make an ornament look bigger in a photo?
Shoot from its own eye level, close up, instead of from standing height.
Should I use zoom?
Move closer where you can; digital zoom loses detail.