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Taking Professional Quality Pictures of Your Flowers

10:39 am by webmann in flowers, photography

Image by Darwin Bell via FlickrWhen people see me taking pictures of flowers on an overcast day, most of them simply shake their heads thinking that I am crazy. “Why don’t you take pictures on a sunny day?” they ask.

Sunny days are great for going to the park for a picnic, but they do not work well for taking pictures of flowers in my yard or garden. Let me have a cloudy day, however, and me and my camera can do some magic!

In this article, you will find seven different photography techniques that you can use to get good pictures even in the sunshine. Also, I will describe some easy to make equipment that you can use with your camera to take great pictures. It doesn’t matter if you use an advanced DSLR camera or a simple “point and shoot” digicam, these methods can allow you take pictures that you will be proud of.

Although most people think that the best time to take pictures is on a clear and sunny day, this is not exactly true. When pictures are taken in full sun, the light can reflect off of the petals and leaves, creating dark shadows that are distracting. Full sunshine, no matter how good it feels on your face, just will not give you the best picture of your beloved flowers. Pictures that are taken on partly cloudy or cloudy days allow the flowers to be evenly lit without causing any shadows or shiny spots.

1. Be patient. Look for a cloudy or overcast day.

It has already been said that you will get the best pictures on an overcast day, so you may want to be patient and wait for that perfect day to get the best pictures of your flowers possible. It is also a good day to take portraits of your kids and family as well. This can allow you to take a picture without the nose shadowing that is common in pictures taken on sunny days. Even if it is a day that is partly cloudy, simply wait for a cloud to block the sun to take your picture. Just be sure that you adjust the exposure as needed to allow for the light intensity decrease.

2. Wait until the right time.

The best way to avoid bright sun is to not take pictures during the midday. This is when the sun is at its peak and by taking pictures in the mornings with the dew on the petals and leaves or in the late afternoons or evening, you will be able to get those beautiful pictures that you are looking for.

3. Create your own cloudy day.

Sometimes it is just not possible to wait for a cloudy day. If this is you, you can take control and make your own cloudy day. Make softer lighting conditions by using diffusing material to block the sunlight. This can be done very simply with a bed sheet, t-shirt, drop cloth, white garbage bag, or frosted glass. By holding it between the flower and the harsh sunlight, you can diffuse the light enough to make a significant difference in your picture. Take a picture with your homemade diffuser and without the diffuser, so that you can see the major difference that occurs.

If you want to make a diffuser that you can conveniently carry around, take a wire coat hanger and pull the bottom until it makes a square. The coat hanger hook becomes the handle, and by wrapping a white shopping bag around the square, you can use the diffuser to get the pictures that you are looking for. This will allow you to create soft light any time you need it.

4. Eclipse the sun yourself.

There are times when it is necessary to block the sun completely. One example when this may be needed is if the background has too much texture or color that will distract the eye from your pictorial target. By creating a dark area behind the flowers you are targeting, you can help to keep the eye on the flowers, rather than the background. To do this, you hold some opaque material like a sheet of cardboard against the sunlight and continue to move it until you get a shadow on the background. Make sure that the shadow does not cover the flowers, but only covers the background. (You may need an extra pair of hands to hold the screening material.) This helps the flower to stand out against a background that is dark.

5. Use the sun for your good.

You may find that there are some times when you want sun in your pictures. You may for instance want a picture of a little flower growing in a really shady spot. How do you make it stand out? The solution to this is to use a shiny material like aluminum foil to reflect the light into the shadowy area. This simple and easy trick will give your picture a major impact. Any reflective surface can be used, including a mirror, foiled gift wrapping paper, white cardboard, or even a copper or gold colored foil if you want to give your pictures a warmer look.

6. For drama, add backlight.

If you have read any photography books, you have most likely read about keeping the sun at your back. This is a hint that should be kept in mind, but it is not a definite rule. If you want the flowers to glow and stand out, take a picture with them backlit by the sun. Face the sun and allow the sun to be behind the flowers. By increasing your exposure by one or two stops you will be able to get a wide range of effects, from a look that resembles stained-glass to a more silhouetted look. You will notice this the most with more translucent flowers, like pansies, poppies, or nasturtiums.

7. The most important thing is to have fun.

Something that you should always aim for when taking pictures of your flowers is to have fun. Use different diffusers, techniques, and positions when taking pictures. You may find a new technique that you will love!

On a rainy or overcast day, take a photo safari and take pictures of flowers and plants. Try to take a picture of the same flower in several different lighting conditions to allow you to see which one works best for your flower and for your visual preferences.

Author Bio:

Kai Virihaur took his first images with a simple box camera at age 10, at about the same time he grew his first pumpkins in his Mother’s flower garden. Later, he has had some of his photographs shown in art galleries.

Today, Kai is committed to using digital photography. Working in the darkroom with the smelly chemicals was a challenge, digital photography is so much easier and offers more creative control also.

Kai’s blog, www.A1PhotoTips, allows him to share the knowledge that he has gained over the years to help you make better pictures. On his blog, you will find new useful photography lessons several times each week.

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You Still Have Time To Get Your Halloween Flowers

9:10 am by webmann in flowers, garden

Fall is a great time of year and Halloween just has colors that bring back some awesome memories of my past Halloweens. You can get Halloween flowers and plants that give the look, feel and even the smell of Halloween.

Last year we tried growing our own flowers for Halloween but that didn’t turn out so well. They didn’t look anything like we expected and they certainly didn’t look like Halloween flowers so we thought it would be better to just buy the Halloween flowers we want.

I remember one year, a long time ago now, my older brother thought it would be funny to hook the garden sprinkler behind the flowers we put out on the porch at Halloween. Every time anyone would bend over to smell the flowers he would turn the sprinkler on. Well it may not sound that funny but way back when I was still a kid it was very funny, especially when it was someone’s mother smelling the flowers.

My mom had a gift for growing and arranging flowers at Halloween. They always looked like fall and Halloween as well as lasting a long time. She would have a vase with beautiful arrangements in all the windows facing the street. I have tried to do this myself over the years but it never looks like moms, so this year we are buying our Halloween flowers and I will stick to backyard gardening for vegetables.

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