Phil, I'm pretty sure that I did it already but I don't find that topic or I can't remember whether I've did it.
However let me explain how I take my pictures.
Basically it is really easy to take pictures of objects (cacti) in front of a neutral background.
- 450_Gymnocactus_viereckii_var._major.JPG (221.17 KiB) Viewed 3697 times
As background I'm using a usual sheet of white paper. The background is directed to shade itself.
At this way you prevent that what you don't want on your pictures, shades.
Very light or white objects can be overexposed at direct sunlight. This will be prevented if the object is in a shade.
Because of this arrangement you will now taking a picture of the shaded side. To light up this side I do use a second sheet of white paper as a reflector.
The now reflected light will not overexposure your cactus and is bright enough to show all details of your plant.
You can see this on the shown picture above.
If you would use the flashlight of your camera you would get shadows on the picture.
For objects in front of a black background you can use the flashlight. But in my experiences is flashlight a really hard light to lighten up an object in short distances.
On this picture I didn't use the reflector paper.
- 451_Gymnocactus_viereckii_var._major.JPG (192.99 KiB) Viewed 3697 times
And the same with reflector.
- 452_Gymnocactus_viereckii_var._major.JPG (205.13 KiB) Viewed 3697 times
Distinctly to see that the plant in the first picture appear darker than in the second.
At last a picture with black background and taken with additional flashlight.
- 199_Setiechinopsis_mirabilis.JPG (193.17 KiB) Viewed 3697 times
I hope that short explanation is understandable and imitable for everyone.
For me it takes a long time to learn and to get the pictures how I show them now.
Maybe it is not the best way and less professional but for me the pictures look quite reasonable.