Dandelion Photography Advice

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Category:

Flowers and Plants

How To Photograph Dandelions - A quick tip showing how to photograph a dandelion seed head.

Posted: 6th May 2012

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Jargon Buster: Off

dandelion head with grass as a background

Here's a really quick and simple approach to photographing a dandelion.

Gear Suggestion

All you need is a camera fitted with any lens that has a close up feature capable of filling the frame with a dandelion head.

Technique

Pick a dandelion that has a full seed head. Hold it at arms length in your non-camera hand with it positioned in front of grass (you can use a tripod as this will free both hands, making adjustments easier). And then with your camera manually set to close focus and held to your eye, move the dandelion closer to the camera until it fills the frame and is in focus, then take a photo. Adjust the exposure if the dandelion is too bright or too dark. If your camera is automatic take the photo when it's focused.

You can repeat the process but position the dandelion against trees or blue sky, or cloudy sky. You could even place it directly in front of the sun, but watch your eyes for this one. It's safer to use the LCD screen if your camera has live view.

Each shot will look different and no doubt one will be preferred. Try the same technique using different backgrounds. Coloured paper, textured walls, carpets etc. as they will all give different effects.

All seven photos are of the same dandelion taken from the same standing position with the stalk held at arms length. The starting point was facing down with a green grass background (above) and I then raised my arm towards the sky and took pictures at several positions on its journey.


A conifer background.	A tree background.


Plain blue sky near horizon.	Scattered white clouds in blue sky.


More white clouds and sun just out of frame. Notice how the seeds become glowing.	Sun directly behind the seed head to create silhouette (Take great care of your eyes if you try this shot).