So, can some post like how to take a proper picture of small plants? For example:
-Or like:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/37114730
If someone else has done this, please point me towards the right place!
Ty!
For what photo views to take, the answer is always âit depends.â For each plant family there are different features that are important for identification. One thing to keep in mind for your small plants is that all plants start out small, so many âsmall plantsâ are seedlings of something bigger, and they would be tricky to identify no matter what you show.
Iâd suggest that youâll get better ID results if for a while you concentrate on bigger more conspicuous plants, especially ones that are flowering. Youâll engage more identifiers and learn much faster.
Ok,
The thing is, that right now theyâre the plants that I see while walking along the side of the road or at my house (in our yard).
So I might not find the exact same plant each timeâŚlol.
Ty!
The previous comment about looking for larger specimens is great but there are many tiny organisms around. So what to do⌠First thing, learn the limitations of the gear you have. Iâm going to guess you use a cell phone camera. When you start to get close to a small subject, you often block much of the light. A tripod helps avoid blur because the camera used a long exposure in low light and you moved a little. You should be able to find a cell phone tripod, gorillapod style maybe, for cheap. These little tripods work well for larger cameras too. The other cell phone technique is to tap the screen on your subject before taking the photo. This will tell the camera where to focus. Experiment at home to find out just how close you can get and still be focused. The more you practice the better youâll get.
Now that youâve mastered your current camera, you can dive down the rabbit hole of more cameras. No single camera can meet all needs. Maybe youâd like a better cell phone camera or a bridge camera or mirrorless or DSLR. Itâs an almost endless sea of choices, tradeoffs, and capabilities. Closeups/macro? Telephoto? Waterproof? Weight? Size?
Have fun.
P.S. the examples you posted look pretty good. Mostly in focus, some idea of size, and trying to get multiple angles and parts. Iâd toss the lower quality photos. You seem to have plenty of good ones. And finally, the more you learn the organisms, the better youâll get at knowing what is needed to ID them. None of us know everything. I take lots of pictures that canât be IDed because I donât know what to look for.
Ok,
I do have an iPhone, which is my main tool for picture taking but I have a Canon for the bird pictures.
Ty.
I do have an iPhone, which is my main tool for picture taking but I have a Canon for the bird pictures.
I bought a macro lens for my phone that clips on over the phoneâs lens. Itâs not as good as my Sony cameraâs macro, but itâs easier to carry. This is minet but there are probably better, more expensive ones. And more current one. I got mine a year ago.
https://www.amazon.com/AUKEY-Wide-Angle-Samsung-Android-Smartphones/dp/B01D8KOAWM/ref=sr_1_1
In willows, one of the basic questions for identification is whether the lower surfaces are green, more or less like the tops, or are hairy or waxy below. Please, please, always photo the undersides as well as the tops of willow leaves. In many cases, thatâs more important than having catkins.
I recently explained that to my students: the bottom of a leaf is as important, and may be more important, than the top of the leaf. Along with the overall habit. I know that the flower is lovely, but a single head on shot of the flower is often insufficient on the road to species level identification of a plant. The leaves, top and bottom, fruit, and the overall habit of the plant are all useful.
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