Nature never fails to inspire us. No matter where we look around us, nature greets us back with its wonderful sights and sounds. Flowers are some of the best subjects to photograph when it comes to photographing nature. Flowers in full bloom can look stunning. Your camera should be able to do them justice.
The variety of colors, shapes, sizes and patterns of flowers lend interest and drama to a landscape. They enhance the beauty of nature and make it look exquisite. Therefore, they are some of the most widely photographed subjects.
Capturing flowers in their glory can be as rewarding as it can be challenging. The good news is, there are certain principles that you can follow to add impact to the photos. Let’s take a look at some of these here.
Choose the Subject
There can be certain aspects about a flower that may seem more appealing to you than the others. For example, you may like the petals more or you may like the head of the flower best and so on. Find out what makes the flower unique and how you can best capture it. Once you have identified the subject of the shot, it is time to add some interest to the photo. You can accomplish this by including an extra element in the image. For example, a bee will make a close-up image look for interesting.
That being said, it is important to ensure that the extra element does not make the image look cluttered and shift the focus on the viewer from the primary subject. Having too many elements in the image can turn out to be distracting.
Be Creative
Since we see the world at eye level, shooting pictures, in the same way, will make the outcomes look boring. A little change in the angle can produce dramatic effects in the shots. You can consider shooting from a lower or a higher level. You can consider shooting from the level of the flower. You can take the shot pointing straight down at the flower. A change in perspective can make the pictures look quite creative and interesting. Use a tripod to shoot sharp pictures.
Some flowers are highly detailed. To capture these, you would need to get close to the picture. This can enhance the appeal of the picture considerably. You can consider using a macro lens for this purpose.
Weather Condition
The weather condition plays a major role in flower photography. Flowers are usually brightly colored. Therefore, too much light or the harsh sun rays of the afternoon can ruin the shot considerably. You can consider shooting the flowers when the sky is overcast. The soft light of the early morning and the evening can help you take wonderful pictures.
Apart from that, an overcast sky is also ideal for flower photography. Such a condition can bring out the delicacy of the flowers. Backlighting the flowers can help in producing some stunning shots. For this, your position should be such that you face the sun which means that the sun will be behind the flower.
The wind can be a major hindrance for flower photography. Therefore, it is wise to avoid photographing flowers in windy conditions. You can also consider capturing photos of flowers early in the morning to avoid the wind. Another method would be to use a cardboard to restrict the wind from reaching the flower.
Background Ideas
While there isn’t much you can do about the background when you are shooting flowers in their natural habitat, this is not entirely true for taking pictures of flowers indoors. While shooting indoors, it is wise to choose a background that complements the flower. Choose a color that is a good contrast to the color of the flower. Ensure that the background is clean and devoid of any clutter that might be distracting.
Practice
Enough practice is crucial for flower photography. You should refine and update your photography skills. For this, you can consider joining a photography class. If you live in Abu Dhabi, joining a good photography community in Abu Dhabi can be of huge help. Carry your camera with you and take as many pictures as you can. Experiment a lot to take creative pictures.
These tips will help you take captivating pictures of flowers easily.
Tristan Taylor, a proficient fashion photographer, is associated with various photography workshops, seminars and symposiums. He keeps himself updated with nitty-gritties of fashion photography industry. Tristan found Gulf Photo Plus extremely helpful to extract information regarding Fine art printing, Giclee print and other aspects related to photography.
