flower photography tutorial
Post on 13-May-2015
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Flower PhotographyBy Dave Shafer
Objectives of my flower pictures
• Show something new • Entertain or amuse • Create Beauty
• Express my personality
Here’s to self-expression!
Flower Photography is not that difficultBasic principles can be taught
Principles of my flower photography • Basic competence • Closeup is best – more interesting• Simplify composition• Optimize background• Experiment with composition • Look for some different take • Extreme closeup• Unusual perspective• Anthropomorphic composition• “Art” - flowers as shapes and colors• Stereo photos
My 105 mm macro lensfor my Pentax K-10 camera
Fully extended, 1.0X magnification
• Usually f/8 to f/16, for large DOF• Often hand-held, with image
stabilization, in bright sunlight• Always natural lighting, no flash• All flower photos shown are by me• Mostly in last two years• All digital• Most were taken at home
Now some thoughts, to break the ice
I try to keep up with the latest technology
Times have changed
You don’t want to feel out of it
Don’t wait for the perfect camera
Your eye is more important than your camera
Taking good photos can be a piece of cake
It is really relatively simple
You can get good advice from books
There are lots of “how-to” books
But you can’t believe everything you read
My favorite tabloid headline
“Skydiver eaten by starving birds”
There are clubs where you can learn
It is probably best to just dive in and start taking photos
Give it your best shot
There will be a few salacious images shown this evening
I apologize to any prudes, like those who want to cover up tree crotches
Nude or semi-nude photography is exciting
But flower photography can also expose you to new experiences
I’m going to squeeze in a lot of images so let me know if I am packing in too much
Groups of flowers tend to be static
Hard to be interesting with groups of flowers – very pretty, but static
Closeup is more interesting
Closeup is more intimate
Distance makes us voyeurs, not participants
Closeup draws you right into the picture
You get pulled right in by the close foreground
Use macro lens to show detail
SimplifyNo single focus of interest Single point of interest
OK to break rules if image is striking enough
Or if you really like the composition
Or if there is a dynamic composition
Simple compositions are best
But too much symmetry is static
Balance simplicity versus interest
Optimize backgroundPretty , but distracting background Much better
Try different colors for background
Black is more dramatic but also is cold
Choice can be tough to make
Like this Scottish dilemma
Background should add but not dominate
Remove clutter from background
Clutter is distracting
Even the foreground can be distracted by the background
But background can provide context
Experiment with composition A shadow can add interest
Try reversing the image
“Read” pictures from left to right
Often choice is pretty arbitrary
Diagonal lines are good
Look for tension in your composition
Opposing shapes right and left
Better – not quite as symmetrical
Consider dramatic lighting
Or atmospheric lighting
Too much symmetry
You don’t have to show the whole blossom
Less is more, in an arresting photo
Part of a dogwood is just as good
Isolate most interesting part
Focus can be used to isolate
White details are hard to bring out
Lighting direction for white is important
Oblique lighting is best
Mistakes are common
Mistakes – too much photoshopLooks a little like a plastic plant Too much color saturation
Photoshop is a powerful tool that can turn on you
Colors and contrast are too strong
Too garish a color combination
Looks unreal – too dramatic
Maybe too simple
Two centers of interest are not good
Eye keeps going back and forth
Unless one is out of focus
Or if the two centers of interest are related to each other
And have some obvious connection
Three are better than two
Not just with flowers
Two usually makes a static composition
Sometimes you want the eye to go back and forth
Within Reason
Vase can also add interest
And add color contrast
Cheating is allowed
You can crimp, bend, cut, twist, etc.
After basic competence, strive for something new
• Extreme closeup• Unusual perspective• Anthropomorphic composition• “Art” – flowers as shapes and colors• Stereo photos
I hope I still have your attention
Extreme closeupAfrican violet center
Surprising details emerge
Pollen can be interesting
Pollen closeups can be bizarre
A poppy center has lots of detail
Unopened buds can be interesting
There is tension in an unopened bud
A little suspense is good
Buds can have interesting detail
Closeup flower texture
Surface texture depends on lighting
Unusual Perspective
Unusual perspectives are interesting
Different taking point can transform picture
Unusual perspective can add humor
Drama can be added to the familiar
Unusual perspective can be puzzling
Your imagination is engaged
Back of flower + cropped and flipped
Back of flower, flowers through glass
Light can be from back or front
Back of daffodil is less familiar
Back of leaf can be interesting
As well as front of leaf
This needs work on background
Improved image
Unusual colors on some leaves
Decay can add interest (except in people)
Try other orientations and settings
Top of orchid, back of calla lilyCalla Cobra
Base of carnation
Cropped, simplified, improved
Try to surprise with an image
To make a splash
And turn heads
You want photos with impact
Images that surprise
Challenge expectations
Give the familiar a new twist
Imagine interesting combinations - Goldilocks and papa bear
Unusual perspective and unusual combination
Don’t get stuck in a conventional rut
Bugs can add interest
But bugs usually detract from the beauty of the flower
Unless it is a butterfly
Bugs can add life to a static picture
Iris and fly
Flowers as higher life forms
There are “faces” everywhere
Look everywhere for the human element
Tree Lady
It takes very little to suggest a face
Just peeling a potato might turn one up
Look for suggestive patterns
Even abstract emotion can be expressed
Anthropomorphic photosElephant head violet Orchid man
Books are best for telling a story
Photos can also tell a story: in a crisis it’s time to send in the clowns
A photo story goes beyond what is shown
Even shadows can be part of the story
“Let me help” and “The Gossips”Found arrangement
Set up arrangement
“Dancing Orchid Ladies” and “Diamond Lily”
Orchid Lady has amazing human detail
As does randy orchid boy
Sealife-like center, sinuous curves
Daffodil Marriage Spat
Crocodile Leaf
Backyard Giraffe
Flower Candy
Pond reflections of fall leaves
Foggy morning with super saturated colors
“Art” – flowers as shapes and colors
African violet center, Hosta leaves
You can “paint” with colors, shapes and composition
Flower shapes as semi- abstract forms
Shapes and colors
Simple “art” compositions
Simplicity is key
“Art” requires simple background
Color can carry the day with very simple compositions
Less is more, in art
Unless you’re into tatoos
Stereo images
This is a lot of material to remember
But don’t worry, there’s no quiz
Had enough?
The End
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