Credits

We would like to thank the people who have allowed us to photograph their beautiful plants or submitted photos now incorporated into the publicly free HostaSearch Database. A sincere thanks to:

• Mark Robey - Pictures and video (Hosta Garden Video Tour)
• Steve Wafler - Pictures and video(Hosta Garden Video Tour)
• Olga Petryzan
• Tom Toman
• Julie Brown
• Gayle Hartley Alley
• Peiter Klapwijk

How to Take Hosta Pictures

Contrary to popular belief, a beautiful day doesn't automatically make beautiful pictures. This is probably one of the biggest misconceptions that people have about photography. In bright sunlight the light reflects off the shiny leaves and the color cannot be picked up by the camera. The dark shadows become distracting elements in the whole picture. These conditions won't put your favorite hostas or blooms in the best light.

Overcast days are best to take hosta photos in the garden. But what if the hostas or flowers you've been waiting for all season are in their prime right now and cloudy skies are not in the forecast?

When shooting on an overcast day, there are no distracting shiny spots on the leaves and no deep shadows. The soft, even light creates richer colors and textures. If you are using a manual camera, these lighting conditions makes it easier to take accurate light meter readings.

How to make the best of a bright situation for general photography:

1. Timing is everything
   The easiest solution to extreme lighting is to simply avoid the midday sun. Try taking your pictures early in the morning before the breeze. You will get your best photos with no wind. For a warmer, more pleasing light, wait until late afternoon.
2. Wait for an overcast or foggy day
   Since the diffused light of an overcast sky or hazy sunlight is ideal to take hosta pictures, it can be worth waiting for the right light. If it's partly cloudy outside, set up your camera and tripod and wait for a cloud to pass in front of the sun. Make sure you adjust your exposure to compensate for the drop in light intensity if you are using manual settings.
3. Bring in the clouds
   If all else fails, you can make your own overcast day by using a diffusing material. This is especially handy when you're shooting close-ups. Take a 12 to 18-inch section of cloth. Hold it between the sun and the hosta you're photographing. Now the shadows are less prominent and not as distracting. When it comes to light, softer is better.

Before you take hosta pictures:

1. Select good plants with good leaves:
   • Select leaves that do not have holes, spots, or damage of any kind.
   • Select plants that are mature, both seasonally and in terms of age in the ground.
   • Gently wash leaves in water. Use a soft towel to get in the veins. Do not rub hard as the wax on the leaf will come off or get streaked. Use a wet Q-Tip to get in certain areas of the leaf, including the veins. Dry with a hair dryer or in the sun. Closely examine the leaf again.
2. Gather your materials:
   • Camera, batteries, memory card.
   • Green poster boards for background of necessary (should be a different green than the hosta)
   • Tripod if available
   • Wet, very soft rag, water, and Q-tips for gently wiping plants.
   • Paper and pen to write the hosta's name and hold it in the corner of the picture. HostasDirect can crop the name out later with photo-editing software.
3. Apply settings in digital camera:
   • Put the camera in "Auto" setting
   • use a tripod for best results
   • Turn the flash off, flashes tend to get pictures with little color depth
   • Be sure to have the highest resolution and sharpness settings to get the most detail out of your pictures
   • "Digital Zoom" - set to "Off" - digital zoom results in bad quality images
   • Use a 2-3 second timer and try your very best not to move the camera when the picture is being taken

Sunlight and Hostas | Yellow Hostas

Fragrant Hostas | Sum and Substance | Hosta Pests