Photographing Flowers with The Bucket Method
The following tutorial on how to make and convert a bucket shield to give flowers some protection from the wind and a nice strong background was submitted by our most prolific forum members - JiminyClickit (he’s posted over 1600 messages in our forums.
Are your outdoor shots blurred by wind?
Do you want photos with black backgrounds?
Would you prefer to leave blooms alive?
With a minimum of cost and effort, you can shield your subject from wind movement, while providing a strong background contrast, and without having to pluck it and set up indoors. By surrounding a bloom, or lower stalk, or tree branch with a suitable bucket device, great photos will be easier to capture without damaging the plant (especially good if it’s not yours).
From simple to more complex, the usefulness of this method will be determined by your individual needs. The size of the container, the material of which it’s made, your choice of holding / mounting it will all play a part in its successful use. Here are a few directions, suggestions and tips to get started.
Some tools you may need:
- scissors
- small saw
- craft knife
- plastic tape
Some materials you may need:
- plastic bucket (oval)
- ¼ inch wing nut
- ¼ inch bolt, 1” long
- plastic tape
How to Construct Your Bucket:
1. Drill this ¼” hole to attach a tripod. ¼” bolt may be used to attach to other supports.
2. Cut / saw these two slits to hold stem / branch of bloom / flower.
3. Cover slit with tape (both sides) to add grip. Cut tape in center.
Almost anything conical will work. You could form a shape with poster board (like an ice cream cone): hold with one hand, camera in other.
How to Use a Bucket to Photograph Flowers
On a Tripod
The most effective mount is this steady, hands-free attachment to a tripod (old cheap one).
Notice branch held in place by slit in bucket.
Off a Tripod
Down and dirty steady shot
Other Mounts
Foldable PVC pipe stand, bucket held with ¼” bolt and wing nut
Wrist straps allow two-handed control.
Pull at “A” to form neck strap
A few Results Shots
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June 14th, 2007 at 2:08 am
ha! i have to admit, that’s a pretty cool and original idea.
June 14th, 2007 at 2:38 am
Very original idea and the results look great :)
I’m not really into this type of photography, so I won’t be recreating it, however as I’ve said; it’s an awesome idea which works really well and those cost you a fortune.
great job!
June 14th, 2007 at 2:51 am
It’s a cool idea, but I prefer having a more natural backdrop. As for the wind factor, it’s a matter of patience or having a friend/stranger hold down the stalk gently.
May just try this thing out though :)
June 14th, 2007 at 3:16 am
While it is a great idea and a great solution for a specific problem, I still find more attractive to let in the context of the flower, such as other near flowers, plants, or even landscape or constructions on the background. Movement caused by wind could still be reduced by shooting at faster speeds, with faster lenses.
June 14th, 2007 at 3:17 am
I shoot this sort of stuff a lot, and I love this idea. I’ll be doing some experimentation with it. Thanks for sharing this!
There is nothing like a black background for flowers. It makes the color pop. With this technique you almost get a product shot on which you can replace the background with anything you like in post-processing.
I can also see how alternate colors could be used to back the shot; patterns; all sorts of ideas are popping into my head.
June 14th, 2007 at 4:36 am
very nice idea mate! I loved it! cant wait to build one!
June 14th, 2007 at 5:38 am
These remind me of the work of a photographer I saw give a talk here who loved using his scanner to take photos of flowers in dark rooms.
The flowers would always appear to be growing out of the blackness, similar to these bucket shots.
I wish I could remember his name, he did some interesting stuff.
June 14th, 2007 at 6:26 am
Wonderful! Now, if only I could put some of the people I shoot in buckets, I’ll have it made.
June 14th, 2007 at 6:49 am
Creative, but I don’t really see myself ever doing that!
June 14th, 2007 at 9:00 am
This is ingenious. Excellent for stock photos. You could apply this same concept to other images: insects, fish, inanimate objects like autumn leaves, cookies or anything that can fit in the bucket. Stock photo buyers usually want an image that can be taken off the background. It would be easy enough to have buckets of different colors: white, gray, etc.
Love it … you’re a genius
June 14th, 2007 at 9:02 am
I have never seen anything like this before. I have seen an article regarding placing an entire light tent around a flower…just think how cumbersome that would be. But, a small light weight bucket is novel. I’m already thinking about trying it myself. Perhaps trying to find a other color buckets as well - especially if they stack easily.
I’m impressed by the photographs. Good job.
June 14th, 2007 at 1:39 pm
The first time I tried a bucket, it reduced frustration, saved time and eliminated bad backgrounds. The response I’ve seen so far tells me I’m not the only one who needed the kind of help this method provides. Hope it works as well for you, too. Thanks to all who responded.
June 14th, 2007 at 10:15 pm
Leave it to JiminyClickit. He comes up with some fantastic ideas, and this one is super. Great idea I’m going to be looking for a Black Oval Bucket.
Thanks JiminyClickit.
June 14th, 2007 at 11:44 pm
Neat trick. Thanks for the tip.
raj…
June 14th, 2007 at 11:45 pm
That’s a very cool idea. I’ll try it for sure. I love taking pictures of flower. Thanks JiminyClickit!
June 15th, 2007 at 12:31 am
You might be able to achieve a similar look with a piece of black velvet fabric - or even just some black broadcloth.
Not quite as handy as a bucket, but folds up and is much easier to carry around.
June 15th, 2007 at 2:22 am
great idea.could use different size buckets
June 15th, 2007 at 2:43 am
This is definately a very original and cool idea, I may just try this out, since you can use different color/size buckets!
June 15th, 2007 at 3:09 am
You know how I know it is windy?
Because since the day I got my macro - it has been blowing!!
This is very cool, beats the wind and also solves the problem of who will hold the black backdrop for you while you take the shot!
A white bucket would be interesting to try too…
Thanks for the idea and the tutorial!
June 15th, 2007 at 4:14 am
Cool idea! The turnout is nice too. I’m not into macro but this is something I will remember if I ever try.
The great part is making do which you did very well.
June 15th, 2007 at 6:55 am
Well that’s an interesting idea. I would though cut some paper up so that it completely covers the inside of the bucket.Pastel colored paper would reflect some light so that might help with some of flowers that turned out too dark and provide choice as to appropriate back grounds for the flower.
June 15th, 2007 at 7:34 am
Great idea… I’m wonddering how you handles the light. Was it natural lightijg or flash. What did you shhot at for DOF? The tradional f22 or less or more? Thanks
Don
June 15th, 2007 at 8:07 am
Never thought of this. I photo lots of flowers & I will try it. Back grounds take away from the subject.
June 15th, 2007 at 10:59 am
What a great idea. I never ever thought of doing something like this for plant shots.
June 15th, 2007 at 12:12 pm
What a great idea. So often there are times when I want to eliminate a background and this will do the trick nicely. Thanks!
June 15th, 2007 at 12:20 pm
It’s really a nice and very practical idea.
But I prefer more natural surroundings to shoot flowers. Well, instead of black bucket if one put a 18% gray object it bring the real natural feel of the flowers. Also, instead of bucket something else more natural, more tender, greenish background object can be use surrounding the flower, which can protect from the wind, harsh sun-light, etc.
Of course, here the writer has produce a very good idea and the photographers should expand it.
Thanks.
June 15th, 2007 at 2:06 pm
This is a great idea. But, carrying a PVC bucket is not always feasible especially if we would like to take the snaps in a flower show or something similar. I would carry a Black Paper or rexin cloth and when required, prepare it in the form of a cone and use it instead of bucket.
June 15th, 2007 at 8:29 pm
DON TREADWELL, Fuji FP S3100 does well at f/8, portrait mode under full sun. I use negative compensation for the conditions and color of plant.
June 15th, 2007 at 8:35 pm
Patty, Necessity is the Mother of invention. Here, I could get a breeze started just by walking outside with camera. No bloom photos were ever in focus until - tahdah! Bucket! Hope it works well for you.
June 15th, 2007 at 8:43 pm
Brilliant idea!!!!
I’ll try a dark green bucket. Thanks so much.
June 15th, 2007 at 11:58 pm
I think you could easily make an additional modification to the bucket design to give you more flexibility for your backdrop.
1. Cut out the bottom of the bucket and mount some clamps or clothespins to the outside rim.
2. Cut various colored fabrics to cover the hole and give you varying color background options. When you attach the fabric to the bottom of the bucket, it will most likely be back-lit (to some extent) and will give you some interesting options, I’m sure.
3. Attach a complimentary colored background to the bottom of the bucket and line up your shot accordingly to take in both the flower and your new back-lit background.
Now I haven’t tried this, but from looking at the bucket design, there’s no reason why this couldn’t work. Just make sure you’ve a very shallow depth-of-field so you don’t get any detail in the fabric.
June 16th, 2007 at 7:39 am
Wicked idea. I have so much stuff around my house, as an all round artist, can’t seem to focus on just one medium. I was thinking, I will definately be making one of your fancy buckets. Just yesterday, I was bothered by the wind. It feels nice, but not when you are trying to photograph a crazy piece of grass with all the little seeds stuck to it. Image was not good. I shall try this.
June 16th, 2007 at 6:16 pm
Not only it can be used outdoor, but indoor as well. Very cool idea…congrats!
June 17th, 2007 at 5:28 am
Great Idea! I have actually used a video chair to get a black background. It worked great, of course it isn’t very portable.
June 17th, 2007 at 7:33 pm
Cool idea, as always, Jiminy!
June 17th, 2007 at 7:36 pm
thanks jiminyclikit for sharing this. It is a very creative idea. Makes photography more creative.
June 18th, 2007 at 12:12 am
I think it’d be interesting to see if someone could craft a transparent version of this, allowing things in the background to be seen in the photo as well.
June 18th, 2007 at 5:33 am
quero arte de photophop
June 18th, 2007 at 1:45 pm
that’s so cool
June 19th, 2007 at 11:56 am
For everyone who has added a bit to this idea: I’m using some of your ideas to improve my shots, too! Thanks for letting me know you have found a way to enjoy photography more and take better photos.
June 22nd, 2007 at 12:45 am
You’re welcome… hehehe.. this is awesome trick!!
August 15th, 2007 at 7:17 pm
great solutions are always simple
and a genius gives simple solutions..
hats off genius :)
January 23rd, 2008 at 12:56 pm
This is the most ingenius setup I have every seen. I think I can now start getting much better flower images. Thanks.