Tips for shooting blooms
Easy enough to point your camera at a flower and take a photo, but lets look a
little deeper than that.
Ordinary can become extraordinary with just a change of angle:
• get low to the plant, that usually helps a lot
• shoot very low looking up for a dramatic perspective
• shoot very low looking up for a dramatic perspective
• get close, then get closer
• put the sun in the frame and have it become an interesting element in the composition
• step back and break out the telephoto for a fresh perspective
• put the sun in the frame and have it become an interesting element in the composition
• step back and break out the telephoto for a fresh perspective
Look to maximize opportunities on cloudy and/or rainy days too:
• great time for macro work (also helps eliminate the “white sky syndrome” of a true landscape shot on a drab sky day)
• great naturally saturated colors
• no harsh contrast to deal with
• wet leaves and blooms often add a nice element to the photos
• great naturally saturated colors
• no harsh contrast to deal with
• wet leaves and blooms often add a nice element to the photos
Look for color in interesting ways:
• contrasting color
• complimentary color
• unique color
• get out your color chart and look for opportunities
Break out the diffusers, reflectors and flashes!
• setup a mini “studio” wherever you shoot, you will find new ways to control the light
• add a diffuser to control harsh light
• add a reflector to control contrast
• add a flash for different effects, even overpowering the sun!
“Never shoot blooms in mid-day” Bah! Break that rule as it fits. Besides, some blooms are not open all day long Ever try to shoot California poppies at sunrise?
• find ways to use the contrast to your advantage
• use a polarizer
• use ND filters
• use diffusers and reflectors
• use flash
Getting locked into one way of shooting? Try something else:
• put the point of focus other than the expected place once in awhile
• play with “flowerscapes” with lots of foreground and background bokeh
• find a steadfast rule and break it
• shoot with a twisted lens axis instead of straight and square
• play with “flowerscapes” with lots of foreground and background bokeh
• find a steadfast rule and break it
• shoot with a twisted lens axis instead of straight and square
Look for great light, see it, feel it, then maximize it as it happens:
• sunrise & sunset are magical lighting times
• one single cloud in front of the sun can be spectacular
• light bouncing off an object and illuminating the blooms in a magical way
• light the way you modify it can make the blooms just dance with radiance
• one single cloud in front of the sun can be spectacular
• light bouncing off an object and illuminating the blooms in a magical way
• light the way you modify it can make the blooms just dance with radiance
Look for oddities, the unique, the strange:
• look for unique plants
• look for unique grouping or oddities
• look for strange angles that make the viewer look deeper
• look for unique grouping or oddities
• look for strange angles that make the viewer look deeper
Look for composition, groupings, layers, backgrounds:
• put the point of focus other than the expected place once in awhile
• play with “flowerscapes” with lots of foreground and background bokeh
• find a steadfast rule and break it
• shoot with a twisted lens axis instead of straight and square
• play with “flowerscapes” with lots of foreground and background bokeh
• find a steadfast rule and break it
• shoot with a twisted lens axis instead of straight and square
Put on the macro lens and see what critters are around too:
• flying insects make for a unique challenge
• many critters can be found inside blooms
• you may even find something feeding on something else
• the closer you get, the more surreal it becomes
• many critters can be found inside blooms
• you may even find something feeding on something else
• the closer you get, the more surreal it becomes
Bring the blooms into the studio:
• refine your lighting
• no wind or weather to get in the way
• spend time exploring composition
• try different lighting, different modifiers, even candles!
• no wind or weather to get in the way
• spend time exploring composition
• try different lighting, different modifiers, even candles!
Get out and experiment!
-Landon
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3 Comments
09 June 10 at 9:15pm
1
This is an area that is on my list to improve: Break out the diffusers, reflectors and flashes! • setup a mini “studio” wherever you shoot, you will find new ways to control the light • add a diffuser to control harsh light • add a reflector to control contrast • add a flash for different effects, even overpowering the sun! I really don't have a diffuser, so need to buy / make one. What are you using for this?
09 June 10 at 11:57pm
2
A good diffuser is really worth it. If you can save up a few pennies and buy one, it really can help in so many ways. I live the 42" 5-in-1 units, but just a diffuser alone can be purchased affordably. You can do a lot with a diffuser and a reflector/bounce card. Very tricky on windy days though and you need assistants. We are having an off-camera flash/lighting as part of out summer workshop series at our local photography club. First one is next Monday. No classroom education until September should be fun. I bit far away from you though. ;-) Good photography clubs in your area?
10 June 10 at 7:13am
3
No. Not like yours. And the local strobist group(s) have gotten into "after dark" stuff. :( Just the few buddies that I can manage to round up, and they don't do things like you discussed above.