There's something profoundly grounding about working with soil and clay — hands dirty, breath steady, the quiet ritual of placing life into earth. Last week, we set out to document this process through a short video and photography session. The subject was simple: planting a small leafy green into a handmade clay pot. But the creative direction? Rich, moody, and cinematic.
The Concept
We wanted to go beyond standard gardening content and instead frame this as a meditative, artful moment — more like a short film than a tutorial. Our visual brief centered on a dark, minimal background with a strong backlight to bring out textures: the fine dust of dry soil, the fingerprints on clay, and the translucent glow of green leaves.
We were inspired by the aesthetic of film noir and natural light documentaries — soft shadows, hard highlights, and a deep focus on tactile experience. We aimed to evoke a sense of solitude and intimacy, like stumbling upon someone in their own quiet world of creation.
The Setup
Background: We used a matte black cloth backdrop to absorb light and remove distractions, letting the subject stand out in stark relief.
Lighting: A single backlight, diffused with a softbox, gave us that cinematic rim light — the kind that makes the edges of the subject glow. A bounce card in front helped fill in just enough shadow detail.
The Session
There’s a natural rhythm in this kind of shoot — no need for dialogue or direction-heavy setups. Just movement, repetition, and observation. We filmed the subject slowly scooping soil, gently tucking roots into the pot, pressing the earth down, then watering from a clay vessel. The visuals told the story.
Sound design played a big part too — we recorded foley: the crunch of soil, the soft rub of clay, and the tiny splash of water. These paired with a slow, ambient track created a sense of calm and reverence.
Final Thoughts
This session reminded us how powerful simplicity can be when framed with intention. A humble act like planting becomes poetic when you give it time, space, and light. Whether you’re a filmmaker, photographer, or simply someone who loves plants — there’s beauty in the dirt, and a story in every leaf.
Camera: Canon C80
Lens: Canon several lens
Filter: none
Location: Switzerland
I'm a freelance Filmmaker in Zurich, looking forward to meeting you here on HIVE and explore visual Art.
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