This 'project' started out simply because I was curious: "Can I shrink myself to fit in with one of my husband's bonsai trees? If I can, would it be at all interesting?"
What it ended up being - to me - was creating images that are 'perspective confused', and make you look twice and wonder, "A person and a tree. Wait, the trees are in bowls? They're small? What?" As the ideas progressed, the 'perspective confusion' is even more apparent.
I wanted to test it out. So, for the sake of experimentation, I simply wanted to place myself standing next to the tree.
I knew that some of the things I needed to consider was the lighting (quality and direction) and depth-of-field. Also, I am shooting this alone and outdoors in natural light, and I don't have a big enough backdrop to make clipping me out easier. So I new I would be doing some fiddling in Photoshop.
I started by looking at the different bonsai trees and I chose one that was a simple upright tree. I shot the tree as it stood in the display. I gave myself enough depth-of-field in front and behind the tree, in order to position 'mini me' and have it look correct. This is then my 'base image'. How I positition myself, lighting, etc. depends on this image.
Next was shooting myself as quickly as possible afterwards in order to maintain the same quality of light. I placed myself under a large tree in our yard, so I could get the dappled shadows that standing under a tree would create. The background was also somewhat similar in hue to the background of the base image. The camera had to be at the same angle to me, as it was to the tree in order to get correct shadows. I also made sure that I was standing at an angle to the sun that was the same angle as the tree and that the depth-of-field was sharp on me, but the background slightly blurred, as in the base image.
In Photoshop, I clipped myself meticulously out of the background. Adding mini-me to the base image, I realised that the way I positioned myself (arm outstretched - still wondering why I chose to do that) would not fit in that blue bonsai bowl. So I put myself in a neighbouring flower pot and 'leaned' on the large tree.
I added some light color grading and various effects to make the blend even more seamless and to give the effect of a warm sunset. I also found that I had to crop a lot closer than I expected in order for 'me' to be a more dominant figure.
Wandering through the bonsai trees
If I didn't crop tightly, I would barely be visible. But I needed to also make sure it was obvious that these trees are actually small and in pots.
The next image was more thought through. I realised that I didn't want to be too tiny, so I chose a tree that had the possibility for me to sit on the side of the bowl. I wanted the feel of a sunny day, just hanging out with the bonsais!
Enjoying the sun - bonsai style!
This time I paid much more attention to how I was sitting so it would look more natural. I knew I needed my one foot to 'rest' on the bowl as if to support and balance myself.
Then, I really wanted to mess with the whole 'perspective confusion'. This time I added one of our bearded dragons, Bob, into the image. Bob appears to be too big compared to the tree, but I am somewhat the correct size. The inclusion of the bowl adds to the size/perspective confusion.
This required a little more work. I knew that I would be behind that forked branch and that the branch above me would be in front of me. So I have separate frames for those two areas in which I held a whiteboard behind them before taking the shot making it easier to clip them out as separate pieces.
Hi, Bob! You certainly have grown!
The final image took a bit of thinking, conceptually. I start the series by curiously wandering in the bonsai, the next were more and more playful. So, I wanted an image to end this short series and suggested "Ok, the fun is over." My first thought was that I wanted my husband in this last image. The idea formed. It would be a "Get-outta-my-yard!" kind of image. I had to choose the right tree, and how I would pose myself and my husband.
There's not a lot of room to put both of us, so it took some careful consideration. The tree and my husband are one shot. I needed to recline just enough to be able to fit somewhat naturally under the tree without being all too small. A few clicks in Photoshop and "ping" little me is being scolded by my husband "The Bonsai Master"!
I guess the party's over!
Time to move on to another project! See you soon!