Saturday, July 17, 2010
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Friday, July 9, 2010
Floral Photography
Imagine lay out in the midst of a muddy field, eye strained to the viewfinder of your camera, waiting for the subject to stop swaying in the wind for half a second. Just half a second. As your neck begins to ache from the past ten minutes of laying in the awkward position you realise patience is indeed a virtue for nature photographers but sometimes it becomes quite obvious that the subject of your interest isn't going to play ball and you will have to wait until next time. Floral photography can be so unbelievably frustrating, not to mention time consuming - yet utterly absorbing.
So why are floral art prints so popular? Flowers and leaves alike possess pleasing symmetry, as well as a broad spectrum of shade and texture. Variations in sunlight and shade affect their appearance, as does the difference before and after rain. Drops of rain on a flower can greatly improve the look of the picture, whilst the range of colours to be found in leaves is immense. In conclusion, flowers are beautiful, and beautiful art prints make beautiful walls!
To begin with you will need the correct lenses for the job. A nice macro lens is ideal to allow you to get as close to the flower as possible and allowing you to get a nice depth of field. Extension rings are needed to focus this close with longer lenses. A tripod is essential for ensuring your flower photography is pin-sharp as is a cable release or remote as the slightest camera shake will render the photograph blurred.
The ideal flower photography has a soft, delicate style and requires a measured control of depth of field and focus. To create a masterpiece the colours need to be exquisite, the lighting perfect and composition just right.
The best time of day to shoot is when slightly overcast with a few clouds cutting the contrast but letting lots of brightness through. Bright sun can be the most difficult to work with as it delivers too much contrast and shadows. The solution can lie with various forms of light modifiers. Reflectors are ideal for bouncing light back onto shaded petals, or to pick out the underside of a plant. Diffusers are perfect for close up shots but for best effect the diffusion material must be placed virtually on top of the plant.
Switzerland has a wonderfully diverse selection of flowers so you are never far away from finding a great flower scene to photograph. Just remember to have respect for the wildlife in the area, including the flower you are photographing. Take care not to damage the flora and leave it all as you found it.
To purchase some of my floral photography as canvas wall art, or art print visit my RedBubble section which showcases a unique collection of images for sale.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)