Photography Subjects In The Meadow

Image taken by David Pritchard using the Tamron 18-270mm PZD lens. 

Meadows spring up every summer and if you can find one near to where you live, they make a fantastic broad photography subject. They're a haven for wildlife as well as wildflowers. Here are some top tips for photography in the meadow. 

Be Respectful

Often meadows are home to rare species and so it's a must to be careful in the surroundings. Don't go chopping down flowers to improve the shot, and don't try to catch or move any insects or wildlife that reside there. Depending on the size and density of the plants in the meadow, staying around the edges may be the best approach. Sometimes, if the flowers and grasses aren't too tall it's pretty easy to pick your way through. 

Insects

As mentioned, meadows are a haven for lots of insects, the most popular of these being butterflies. They're easily spooked and are liable to fly off at any second so a fast shutter speed and the ability to focus quickly onto the subject are both necessary. The best time to photograph flying insects is in the morning or late afternoon as the heat of the day begins to die down, as they remain still for longer during these times. The wildflowers in the meadow provide the perfect backdrop for some butterfly photos. 

Flowers

Many wildflowers including  the common poppy, cowslip, daisy and buttercup grow in the meadow, along with lots more. All these will make great images of the single flower but they will also combine to make a colourful landscape shot or the backdrop for foreground interest, such as a portrait or pet photo. A wide aperture is ideal to isolate the flower from the background and blur any distractions out but still leave the colours there. 

Portraits and Pet / Animal Photos

Meadows make a beautiful background for portraits of groups or people on their own. Shots from the back of people walking along at sunrise or sunset is the typical meadow image that comes to mind but you can experiment with different compositions to make your image pop and stand out, Well behaved dogs can be told to sit surrounded by flowers for an artistic image. If you're quiet at dawn and dusk (perhaps without the dog) then you may be lucky enough to see rabbits or hares, even sometimes foxes roaming among the flowers. A longer lens such as the Tamron 150-600mm will be ideal for this kind of work.