In this article, ePHOTOzine member Janet Walters shares some of her flower photography secrets.
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We know there's not many flowers left in gardens, however you can still shoot shop-bought blooms indoors.
So, for those wanting to experiment with flower photography, Janet (chase) has the following tips:
- Always use the best quality flowers you can find.
- Try to look at the shape and form of the flower and the container they sit in. How would it best be displayed in the image so the flowers are shown off to their best advantage?
- Look for interesting shapes and colours. Stamens are a great focal point and some really good images can be produced using a shallow depth of field while you focus on the stamens of a flower.
- Shoot from different angles, use a selection of f-stops and see which looks the best for what you had in mind.
- Never take images of flowers in direct, harsh sunlight as petals are very reflective and easily over expose / burn out.
- Use some form of diffuser to cut out harsh light, leaving a nicely 'balanced' exposure. Greaseproof paper is a good one, tissue paper or a small piece of muslin can work too. I use a cheap fold up diffuser I got free with a magazine years ago.
- A macro lens is a good piece of kit for flower photography but it's not essential.
- Use a sturdy tripod, particularly if you're shooting outdoors.
- Avoid windy days in outdoor environments.
- Enjoy yourself, be creative and think out of the box for something a bit different.
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