With the upcoming Spring Native Plant Sale just around the corner I wanted to post a few flower pictures that I’ve taken here at Reflection Riding.
When photographing flowering plants a macro lens is your “go to” piece of equipment. With close up photography the most difficult hurdle to overcome is choosing the plane on which to focus. Macro lenses have little or no depth of field so your focus is crucial.
And I rarely use a tripod. Wildflowers often grow in uneven terrain and I just find that the tripod gets in my way. Shoot using a shutter speed of 1/200 of a sec or higher and you should be fine.
Lighting: Personally I still prefer to shoot pictures with early morning sunlight or later in the evening. I’ve noticed that some photographers suggest overcast skies and the diffused lighting approach.
Background: I often preach that your background is almost as important as the subject matter. If the background seems distracting and you really want to make the colors stand out, carry a small piece of black poster board to place behind the flower. I’ve even used a friend’s black rain jacket with the same effect. Position it so that little or no light lands on the board and you’ll create a studio effect with dramatic eye popping colors.
With a few simple tips you too can make the most of your wildflower photography. Hope to see you at our plant sale. And if you are a budding photographer, come check out the wildflower photo workshop as well. IPhones and point and shoot cameras are welcome.
