Nature Photography

Flower Photography

When engaging in flower photography it's important to figure the angles at which you want to shoot your subject. Asking if the whole flower or part of the flower should be represented and if the job can be accomplished with natural light or is artificial light needed are some of the questions a flower photographer can ask.

It is said that early morning and late afternoon are the best times for outdoor photography. This holds true for the photography of flowers. The light is kindest in the mornings, when it's gentle and the harshness of full daylight has yet to happen when the sun is at its peak in the sky. The shadows are softer in the morning and it is easiest to accentuate the essence of the flower and work with the shadows amongst the petals. Later in the afternoon the sun lowering in the sky and the flower photographer can use the weakening sun and the long shadows to his or her advantage. There is a hue of darkness in the waning light, and for some shots backlighting and a fill flash would produce beautiful results.

Focusing on the flower and considering the composition of the photograph bears a lot of thought. Should the entire flower be shown or should it be photographed at an angle? What about the stem? How best to accentuate the beauty of a flower before committing the image to film or digital memory card is half the job of successful flower photography. Taking into consideration flower shape and given light should help the photographer make the decision.

Depth of field is a consideration when collecting images of flowers. Thinking about the clarity of the shot, distance from the subject and if other flowers will be in the frame as well are all involved in depth of field assessment. A tripod is essential to a sharp flower shot for long exposures using natural light. Large format cameras can take beautiful photos of flowers provided the photographer has no desire for close ups. Macro lenses can dive deep inside the flower, catching the most subtle details.