Photographing Herbs

By Becky Wajda
Willow Pond Farm Herbs & Everlastings

A picture is worth a thousand words.

We all enjoy a really good photograph--its color, composition, and subject. Individual elements in it, many of which we probably could not pinpoint, draw us to it. The photographer likely achieved that splendor using a wealth of gadgets, tools, and expensive equipment. Most books and professional literature on the subject provide detailed lists of filters, films, lights, and more that "taking good pictures" might require.

Most of us, however, don't have the financial resources or time to achieve that level of professionalism. For herbal professionals, though, good photography can be an invaluable tool for marketing our products and educating our staff members. And for the herbal enthusiast, photography can be a wonderful way to document a garden throughout the seasons and years.

I purchased my first 35mm camera, an Olympus OM-10, in 1982. I still have that same camera. Equipped with it, a 135mm telephoto lens, a UV filter, and lots of film, I have spent many hours developing my hobby to a point of pride in my photographs. A good picture is more than the equipment used; a good picture is most often the result of care and attention to several key factors: color, light, and scale. This article is largely the results of my testing various combinations of these factors, taking many pictures, and extracting some key points from the literature. >>

Page 1 Photographing Herbs
Page 2 Color Composition
Page 3 Lighting
Page 4 Scale and Perspective
Page 5 Background and Natural Elements
Page 6 Camera Care and Film
Page 7 Conclusions and Works Cited