Let’s finally leave winter behind us and check out the flower show calendar (at least in the northern hemisphere!). Those shows call on professionals to photo-shoot their stars (the flowers!) but amateurs photographers are welcome to take pictures as long, of course, as they respect the grounds and their live flora display.
Flowers seem to have been created to be admired and they are a favourite subject judging by the number of pictures posted on the internet. Don’t be fooled though, if they make it seem easy for their inherent beauty to be caught on camera, flowers still require photographers to apply certain rules. Luckily though, when there are rules, there are tips and tricks too which will help you deliver your very own signature pictures of flowers.
BRING THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT
With your camera and lenses, do not forget to bring a tripod. No matter how still you think you are, there will always be handshaking.
ISOLATE THE SUBJECT
Assuming you’d be free to visit the flower show at a quiet time to avoid crowds, you will be able to select your subject and approach it as you’ll need to and take your time to check out any visual distraction around the subject. So, always remember to check out the background.
Clutter never looks good on a picture and one way to avoid it is by using a large aperture to blur the foreground and background.
Sometimes though, the back ground can actually work as the ideal contrast to the bright colours of a flower! Imagine a bright red flower set on a lush green foliage background?
CHECK THE WIND
Paying attention to the wind seems obvious and yet we often forget until the very last second before shooting that breeze can be a nuisance. If you have to deal with wind, look for something to block the swing of the stem below the flower. You can even make use of your reflector or simply a piece of cardboard or at least something convenient you carry with you.
Remember to always respect not only the flower you are shooting, but also the garden around it.
GET CLOSER
You will definitely want to catch the beautiful intricate details of a flower. To do this, you best choice will be to use a macro lens that will allow you to focus and get really close to your subject. If you do not have a micro lens however, one more option would be to take your picture from the closest distance your camera allows you to and crop it later.
CHANGE YOUR PERSPECTIVE
Do not simply aim your camera at the flower and shoot. Be creative, be artistic. Take a step back to take in the scene. Try different angles, even if you have to get down on your knees and play with the light.
USE A REFLECTOR TO CLEAR SHADOW
Photography is the art of catching light, but you may not be able to make it in time to catch the best light. There may be shadows or even a full shadow on your subject and you will need to use a small reflector (or a reflective material) to direct light where you need it. A light coloured reflector placed opposite the sun will bounce light back onto the flower.
USE A DIFFUSER TO SOFTEN THE LIGHT
You want to avoid severe highlights and shadows; too much contrast. The use of a diffuser is a simple and inexpensive solution. You can even make your own diffuser using a thin white piece of fabric, as long as you can see through it clearly when it is placed between your subject and the light source. You can try different effects by shifting the diffuser closer or farther from the subject.
CHECK YOUR SHUTTER SPEED
Shooting with a 1/100s shutter speed will help eliminate the unwanted effects of a flower swinging in the wind. With a fast shutter speed, use a higher ISO setting when the light is insufficient.
CHANGE YOUR LENSES
Use a wide-angle lens
Why not use a wide-angle lens instead of a macro lens? It can make your subject stand out while creating a sense of depth on your picture.
For less accessible flowers at the show, you could use a telephoto lens; it will help focus on the subject while blurring the cluttered background.
Whatever your choice of equipment, always use your feelings, be the artist and have fun.
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