Flowers are one of the most beautiful things in spring.
Colorful and beautifully shaped, every photo with them as a subject is always a success.
In this article I will give you 8 tips for photographing flowers in the best possible way!
1) Play with perspective
Often as soon as we see some interesting subject, we are taken by the enthusiasm to photograph it.
Sometimes improvising and seizing the moment is essential, while other times it is better to stop and observe in order to represent something in its full beauty.
Flowers are ideal subjects for experimenting without any rush.
For this reason I advise you to try different perspectives, to make even the simplest flower something new and exciting to photograph. Try to photograph a flower from below or putting yourself at its level; you may not be in a very comfortable position, but I assure you it will be worth it!
Sometimes some flowers are perfect to be photographed from above rather than from the front, as in the case of this example of “Lampascione”, a herbaceous plant found here in Italy.
I find that the photograph from above is much more interesting and that makes this simple flower a very interesting subject.
2) Location isn’t the key
Unfortunately in this period it is difficult to move to find beautiful locations in which to photograph; but that doesn’t have to stop you! As seen before, even the simplest and most common flower can create spectacular photographs, just be patient and try to experiment with different techniques and perspectives!
3) Look at the surroundings
When we want to photograph a flower, we often focus too much on it, without paying attention to its surroundings.
Sometimes photographing a set of flowers, rather than one in particular, can be more effective in photography.
For example, you can use the other flowers in front of and behind your subject to create interesting effects and backgrounds.
Try positioning yourself so that another flower is very close to your lens, this way your main subject will be in focus while the other will be out of focus, giving an abstract effect to your photo!
4) Experiment with lights
Light and sunlight are precious allies for photography.
In the case of flowers, if exploited to the fullest, they can give extraordinary effects!
To make the most of the sun’s rays, it is advisable to photograph near sunrise or sunset, when the sun is low in the sky and the light is better.
5) Catch the details
Not infrequently the flowers host graceful insects on their petals; take advantage of this opportunity to photograph them!
One of the types of photos that I most like to take are butterflies on flowers, because I can capture two beautiful subjects in a single photo. So if you think an insect can place on the flower you want to photograph, be patient and you won’t be disappointed!
Even drops of water can make flowers even more beautiful to photograph; they are like little pearls that add vibrancy and sparkle to the photo. You can go out after the rain, early in the morning, or sprinkle some water on the flowers yourself, seeing is believing!
6) Get close to the flower
Surely one of the best ways to photograph flowers is to get as close as possible to them, to get sharp and detailed photos!
There are various ways to do this, from the cheapest to the most expensive.
There are lenses for macro photography, which have the ability to focus on subjects that are close to the lens and which are perfect for this type of photo. However, if you are a beginner photographer, there are cheaper solutions, which do not involve the purchase of expensive and highly specific lenses.
For example, there are extension tubes, which combine with your basic lens to allow you to take excellent quality macro photos! But I’ll tell you more about this type of tubes in a next article.
If you have a telephoto lens you can zoom in on the flower, taking into account the minimum focal distance.
7) Keep it simple
To capture the true essence of a flower, I recommend that you make your photo as simple as possible.
Try to make the background as simple as possible to focus attention on the beauty of the flower.
In order to do this, use a low aperture, so that part of the flower is sharp and the rest soft and out of focus. You can use a large focal aperture such as f / 4 or f / 2.8.
8)Make it sharp
Remember that part of the flower must be very sharp to achieve the desired effect.
You can help yourself with a tripod or by placing the camera on a stable surface.
In windy weather you can use a higher shutter speed.
I hope you enjoyed these tips for photographing flowers in the best possible way!
If you have any other advice write it below in the comments.
See you with the next article!