Hidden Bloom

I was out shooting a longer form video about four hours from home, chasing a place where the snow had already melted. Depending on when you’re seeing this, that video is either already out or coming soon on YouTube if you want more context.
I found this subject lying on the ground and it immediately caught my attention. It looked woody, almost like a pumpkin-shaped flower, but everything was the same brown tone - petals, stem, everything. To this day I’m still not sure what it is, but it felt unique enough to become a subject.
The forest floor was covered in moss, so I placed it on a small diagonal slope to create a natural line from left to right. The subject itself curves slightly in the opposite direction, which made the composition feel balanced.
I also took the time to capture a before and after version of this shot, showing the difference between natural light and the final image where I built the lighting.

[SCENE SETUP]
A small unknown subject placed on a mossy slope in the forest. The composition was built around a diagonal line to guide the eye, while keeping the surrounding elements simple to avoid distractions.

[LIGHT PLACEMENT]
(1) Light panel (left side)
Placed on the left to create a general direction of light and softly illuminate part of the moss without pulling too much attention downward.
(2) Flexible LED Light (right side)
Placed on the right side, carefully controlled with a narrow beam to illuminate only the top of the subject and create a subtle halo.
(3) Flexible LED Light (left back / stem)
Positioned lower on the left side behind the subject to catch the stem and reveal texture while keeping it subtle.
(4) Flexible LED Light (top left rim)
Placed higher on the left to create a soft rim light on the top of the subject and enhance depth.

[KEY SETTINGS]
f/3.5 · 1/125s · ISO 400
70 images (focus stack)

[INTENT]
Reveal the shape and texture of the subject using light and shadow, while keeping the composition simple and focused.

[KEY IDEA]
Underexpose first, then build the light to shape the subject.

Before / After

Explanation

If you look at the before and after comparison, you can clearly see how much the lighting shapes the subject. The natural light version feels flat, while the final image reveals depth, texture, and direction through controlled light.
The image works because the light emphasizes the sculptural shape of the subject while keeping the background subtle. The diagonal composition helps guide the eye through the frame, and the controlled lighting keeps the attention where it matters.

Gear Used

– amaran Ace 25c
– Adaptalux Flexible LEDs
– Canon R5 + RF 100mm Macro

Settings

Camera: Canon R5
Lens: RF 100mm Macro
Aperture: f/3.5
Shutter Speed: 1/125s
ISO: 400
Focus stacking: 70 images

Breakdown

I started by placing the subject on a small slope to create a natural diagonal line and positioned the camera slightly below, pointing up just enough to reveal the shape and the stem.
Since the scene felt a bit flat, I underexposed by about two stops to create space for the lighting.
I placed light (1) on the left side to establish the main direction of light while keeping the moss subtle and not too bright.
Then I added light (2) from the right side with a narrow beam to illuminate only the top part of the subject and create a small halo.
I used light (3) from behind on the left side to reveal texture in the stem without drawing too much attention to it.
I placed light (4) higher on the left side to create a soft rim light and add depth to the top of the subject.
The key part here was controlling the light so it didn’t spill too much on the moss and kept the attention on the subject.
I captured around 70 images at f/3.5 and stacked them in post to keep the subject sharp while maintaining a soft background.

Quick Tip

Before adding any lighting, take the time to move your camera up and down and explore different compositions. Once it feels right, lock everything in place and then start building your light.

Final Thoughts

I really love this image, not just because of how it turned out, but because it brings me back to that quiet morning alone in the woods near that small creek… it felt like a little fairytale place.

Watch the process