I’ve long found that the hardest part of photographing bonsai is figuring out how high to hold the camera.
Holding it too high can be good for showing the foliage but not so great for seeing the branch structure. Holding the camera too low reveals more of the branch structure but doesn’t offer a good view of the tree’s outline.
I usually start by holding the camera about one-third of the way between the lip of the pot and the apex. If that level doesn’t do the tree justice, I’ll make adjustments up or down as needed.
Here are some photos of a large satsuki bonsai displayed at the 2015 Taikan-ten exhibit in Kyoto, Japan, showing the effect different viewing angles can make.
Too low
Still too low
About right
A tad too high
Too high
Way too high
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