Weed Porn: Focus On Cannabis Photography

In 1974, High Times published its first marijuana centerfold in its Fall issue, only the second edition ever of the groundbreaking magazine covering all things cannabis. Depicting a 20-pound brick of Colombian pot on a white silk sheet, the image was the first in a series of iconic marijuana photographs that continues to this day. Since that popular debut, cannabis photography has advanced, both technically and artistically, with the launch of myriad other publications dedicated to the plant. And with the flood of cannabis marketing brought about by legalization coinciding with explosive growth in social media, a new day has dawned in the era of weed porn.

Photographer Curtis Taylor (Instagram: @curt_ice) got his first dose of cannabis photography as a boy growing up in Oklahoma. For him, the images in the issues of High Times he found on supermarket magazine racks hinted at a different world far away. So, when he found himself as an adult working in Portland’s legal cannabis industry, those images were still burning in his mind.

Working as a budtender in a dispensary, Taylor spent downtime shooting nuggets of cannabis flower to create images for social media. That early work led to a relationship with the Oregon cultivator Green Bodhi, who features his images on Instagram. The arrangement has grown into a full-time career as a cannabis photographer and the opportunity for Taylor to explore his interests.

“It's afforded me an avenue of creativity and I have a passion for cannabis, so it just kind of lined up perfectly,” he says in a telephone interview.

Hi-Res Becomes High Art

Early in his career, Taylor encountered one of the primary challenges faced by cannabis photographers: taking extreme close-ups of marijuana flower. Much of the weed porn produced today focuses on the tiny, mushroom-shaped glands known as trichomes that produce THC and other cannabinoids. Only 50 to 100 microns wide, the trichomes cover the surface of cannabis flower in an eerie, translucent carpet.

Capturing this detail, however, is difficult due to the limited depth of field inherent in macrophotography, which in a single image can capture only a small sliver of the tiny landscape in minute detail. To compensate for this limitation, Taylor and many other cannabis photographers rely on a technique known as focus stacking. Instead of only one image, a special camera mount is used to take multiple exposures, each with a different area of the subject sharply focused. Special software then processes the images to produce a digital composite that reveals intricate detail throughout the entire depth of field.

“It's definitely a little bit more in-depth than your typical photo shoot, where someone might be taking a couple hundred images,” Taylor says. “We can take thousands, easily.”

An Opportunity For Independent Entrepreneurs

Amanda Day (Instagram: @terpodactyl_media) also got her start as a cannabis photographer working in dispensaries. She had been working as a budtender and in management positions as she pursued a degree in journalism and multimedia. But in 2016 at the age of 25, Day suffered a stroke only one month before graduation.

The experience had a profound impact on Day’s life. Previously very healthy, the unexpected event left her with debilitating chronic migraines. Unable to work in the dispensary much of the time, Day’s supportive employer made accommodations that allowed her to put her skills into action.

“They kind of carved out a position for me to handle social media and advertising and stuff like that, where I could work from home a lot more,” Day remembers.

The dispensary also had a cultivation operation, so Day worked photographing live plants as well as harvested flowers and other cannabis products. But when the company went through a change of ownership, her new employer wasn’t as sympathetic to Day’s situation. Knowing that her frequent migraines made a traditional employment arrangement impractical, Day decided that it was time to set out on her own.

“I kind of dove in and started my own company, and here I am,” she reports confidently.

Although she also shoots marijuana buds and cultivation operations, Day says that much of her work involves photographing cannabis extracts such as butane hash oil, rosin, and THC diamonds. These extracts represent a growing share of the cannabis market, but their unique properties present new challenges for this type of weed porn.

“Extracts and concentrates are kind of a different game because they all vary so much in consistency,” notes Day. “Some of them, when they get to room temperature they start melting and shifting and changing color or consistency.”

She approaches her subject matter with originality and artistic flair: a golden swirl of rosin perched on a dabbing tool, peaking like a soft-serve cone. A multi-faceted THC diamond with a soft mirror image reflected on a black, glossy foreground.

Day isn’t the only woman making her mark in cannabis photography, but she’s surprised that there aren’t more women in the field. She says that while in many industries women are well represented in the design and creative fields, that doesn’t seem to be as much the norm in cannabis. It is an industry notoriously dominated by white males, and Day says she saw the contributions of women often dismissed or discounted when she was in the retail sector of the business. But she hasn’t found her gender to be a barrier to her success as a photographer and sees plenty of opportunity for women professionals in the field.

Two Worlds Come Together

Erik Christiansen’s (Instagram: @erik.nugshots) foray into the world of weed porn began with his love of the herb. He’d been a hobbyist photographer since his dad put a camera in his hands when he was 8 years old. So, years later when he discovered the complexities and nuances of marijuana, the two interests came together.

“As I got further down the rabbit hole of good cannabis, I started taking note of the differences in colors and shapes and flavors,” Christiansen explains in a virtual interview. “And it just was so fascinating to me that the next logical leap was to take some pictures of the interesting-looking bud.”

Christiansen had experience taking good images dabbling in photojournalism and shooting nature, landscapes, and off-road racing. But macrophotography was new to him, so he took thousands upon thousands of exposures to hone his technique and editing skills. The investment in time has paid off, and just over a decade later Christiansen’s work has been seen in publications including High Times, Cannabis Now, and Skunk magazine, and he has shot for clients all over the West including cultivation operations in California, Nevada, Arizona, Oregon and Washington.

Getting those kinds of gigs didn’t come right away, however. He had been shooting amazing images, but that was only part of the equation. Getting them in front of viewers was a different challenge, and Christiansen realized that social media was the solution. He had posted some photographs to the now-defunct StumbleUpon, but he admits that he was leery of Instagram at first. Because the app’s filters made great photographs so easy to create, he didn’t think it was a fitting home for professionals who labored with their post-production. Eventually, however, he relented. And nearly 90,000 Instagram followers later, he says the choice has made all the difference in the world.

“Social media is the reason that I have a career in cannabis photography, quite honestly,” he says. “Without that, I don't know if I’d be where I am.”

Today, Instagram is the home to a veritable cornucopia of weed porn. Amazingly detailed and creative imagery is available from the likes of @professorp420, @apotfarmersdaughter and @surface_area999, to name just a few. And thanks to the democratization of publishing made possible by the app, anyone can gain an audience as a cannabis photographer.

Weed Porn Tips From The Pros

Attracting thousands of followers on social media isn’t likely to happen overnight, however. Creating compelling photographs is essential. But with experience in both shooting and editing, great cannabis imagery can be produced and easily shared by even hobbyist photographers. For those just starting out, Taylor suggests lots and lots of practice.

“You can always take the same photo a million times, but at different settings, just to find what works the best,” he recommends. “So, don't be afraid to experiment. Don't be afraid to keep trying different things.”

Both Taylor and Christiansen note that beginning cannabis photographers don’t need to run out and buy high-end photographic equipment to start. A quality macro lens, Christiansen notes, is an expensive addition to the camera bag. But the effect can also be achieved with a DSLR using inexpensive extension tubes that change the focal length of an existing lens. And while good lighting is key to great nug shots, investing in a flash or softbox isn’t necessary. Bright, diffuse light is free for the taking outdoors on a cloudy day. Once a budding cannabis photographer’s interest has been piqued, more professional and expensive equipment can be added as skills and experience progress.

So score some weed and grab your camera! Who knows, maybe you’ll be the next social media weed porn star.