OK, I keep intending to start writing helpful (hopefully) articles on my blog. I was hoping to have a Wordpress blog on my site set up by now, but I guess I should just get started and post these on
my Facebook fanpage and here for now.
Since it is on my mind now with my own photography, I'll start with Tips for Flower Photography "Kerrie's Outdoor Flower Photography Tips" and get back to general photography tips later. :)
Viola, May 2010
Caveat: I'm not a professional photographer. I don't even have a dSLR! I'm not going to get into many technical aspects. Your camera manual and Google searches can lead you to many people that talk about that kind of thing. Most of the time I just use the pre-set options on my camera – an old
Olympus C740 Ultra Zoom.
So onto the main course. :)
"Kerrie's Outdoor Flower Photography Tips"
This if for photographing flowers in their natural or garden habitat with natural light.
1. Don't wait too long once you see that perfect bloom!
Flowers blooms are fragile. They will get bruised/damaged by rain, animals etc. Some blossoms only last one day (ex. day lily), others (ex. fruit blossoms) die/change quickly after being pollinated, while other blossoms have a longer life span - or the plants will keep putting out new blooms through the season to give you more chances.
So, if you want to capture a particular type of flower, it helps to know which of these it is and be ready to shoot it asap, if needed. You may get lucky if you go back the next day, but don't be surprised if it is too late.
2. Get down to flower level.
Be prepared to move around at different heights. When I want to shoot flowers I try to bring a picnic blanket and old cushion around with me. Many flowers (especially Spring ones) grow low to the ground, so most of my shots are taken lying right down on the ground or kneeling.
3. Different angles.
Try to look at the flower from as many angles as you can to see different compositions and light effects.
4. Get close.
Get as close as your camera settings allow for focusing. Read your manual to see what settings you should use, or use a macro lens if available. Take photos at different distances from the flower.
5. Get a variety.
Look for flowers in different stages, buds, just opening, full blossom, dead flower or seeds/seed pod. Depending on the type of plant, you may get different stages on the same plant and you can capture them on the same day, or in the same photo. On other types of plants the flowers will be in about the same stage at the same time, so you'll need to keep going back on different days to capture the different stages. Sometimes this will only take days/weeks to go through the full cycle, other plants will take the full the growing season.
6. Watch the weather.
While the weather is important for any outdoor shot, it is even more important for close-up flower shots. The best weather for easy good shots is a bright, but cloudy, day with low/no wind. You can still work with other weather, but it takes more work to find shots that work. If the sun is bright, it often work best when it is low in the sky – early morning or late afternoon/evening. Watch how the sun hits different areas of your garden at different times of day and be prepared to take photos at the right time of day for the effects you want.
Some people like to photograph water on flowers just after a rain. The light is often good at that time too.
7. Dress comfortably.
Wear appropriate clothing for all this activity (close to the ground, bending, insect barrier) and sunscreen and insect repellents, if needed. You will likely lose track of time if you get into your photography, so it is best to prepare ahead of time. :)
8. Watch out for surprise guests.
Insects will be around outdoor flowers. :) Don't harm/step-on any bee-like insects you see around the flowers. These are important for pollinating the flowers and many bees are experiencing serious problems and some are even becoming extinct in certain areas.
Read about Colony Collapse Disorder. This is happening to some wild bees too, not just honey bees. Either wait for them to move on, or make them an important part of your photo.
There are many other insects that might be found on flowers. Some interesting and others not so interesting. Try to keep an eye out for them and gently brush/blow them away if not wanted in your shot. I often find unexpected critters when going over my photos in full view. :)
If it is your own garden, take care of the pest insects, preferably in an environmentally friendly way to not harm the beneficial insects like the bees.
9. Watch for debris.
Wind and rain can put dirt on petals. Likewise, pollen can get spread around on them. Sometimes you might not want this and you can blow or brush it gently off. Be careful, because petals bruise easily. You may want to carry around a soft brush, like a make-up brush to help. Sometimes it works, sometimes it just smears things, so I recommend taking photos before you do anything, just in case. Small amounts of dirt can easily be cloned out with photo-editing software. (I do this all the time) But it is just easier if you don't have to do that extra touch-up work in the first place.
10. To leaf or not to leaf.
Look at the leaves that go with the flower. Do they fit into a nice composition with the flower, or do you want to leave them out? Like flowers, you may find the leaves in different stages.
Do you want to ID the plant later? If you do, then be sure to get clear, close-up photos of the leaves, how they attach to the stem and a shot of the entire plant to give an idea of the overall growth. Something included for a size reference may also help when identifying them later.
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OK, I think I'll stop there and include some other tips in a more “general” blog later.
Note, that the more comments, feedback and/or people I have following me, the more likely I am to keep posting new photos and information blogs. So if you like my work and/or tips, please let me know and invite your friends. :)
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