Links to good flower photography tutorials

samshaw

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15 Dec 2010 - 10:30 AM

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Hi all,

I'm wondering if anyone can point me in the direction of some good tutorial on taking arty pictures of flowers. Not so much about focus and DOF, more to do with what kind of set-ups people use, indoors and outdoors, lighting etc, and how they edit them.
Ive tried searching on the web but as yet I havent found the kind of thing I'm looking for So just wondering if any one can give me some links to articles/websites that they have found useful.
Cheers guys

Pete (ePHOTOzine Staff)

11

15 Dec 2010 - 10:36 AM

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You've come to the right place - our tutorial section is huge. Search the site for Flowers and click on the techniques tab in the left blue panel. One specific tutorial I can think of is the one Janet Walters wrote Arty Flowers

cattyal (e2 Member)

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15 Dec 2010 - 11:52 AM

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Thanks for suggesting Photo Month Sarah

I've recently started trying to put together a guide to my style of flower photography - so far I've got as far as basic kit but want to pad it out with techniques and photos of my setups too. Here's what I've written so far if it's of any use!

1. Background
a. Colormatt
b. Smooth white paper
c. Black faux suede or velvet
d. Anything else that takes your fancy
2. Background Support
a. One clothes rail
b. Lots of and lots of clamps of all sizes – including a Wimberley plamp
3. Plant Support
a. An assortment of vases
b. Helping Hands multi clip clamp – the type used by hobbyists - this kind of thing but take the magnifier off - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Silverline-633830-Helping-Hands/dp/B000O3RJFC
c. Clothes pegs, masking tape, florist wire (for those stems that won’t quite go in the right direction)
d. Something on which to place the clamp – helps to have a bit of height so you don’t have to trim flower stems.
e. I use either a fold up picnic table over which I can drape my background to give a nice smooth finish or cheap high plant stands on which I can perch my subject where-ever I fancy.
4. Light
a. Natural – nice window light – can’t beat it
b. Lights with bendy necks – handy for positioning
c. If you’re lucky enough (I am) – studio lights
d. If you have the patience (I don’t) – flashgun – off camera
e. Reflectors – foil covered cardboard, white card – anything that will bounce a bit of light back
5. Camera
a. Anything with decent macro capability if that’s what you want to do. I use either my old Fuji S7000 or my Sony DSLR A350 with either the kit lens (18-70) or 50mm macro.
b. A tripod comes in handy too.

whipspeed (e2 Member)

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15 Dec 2010 - 4:59 PM

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No problem Alison, I saw it and thought yipee! Something to do with the blasted plant I get every year & kill in a week

whipspeed (e2 Member)

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15 Dec 2010 - 7:18 PM

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Well, what a coincidence with this thread, mine arrived this evening and it's just a tiny wee one, just a single stem. So tomorrow afternoon I might get the camera out.