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Create Memorable Flower Photos by Mary McGrath Use these easy tips from Mary McGrath to ensure you get some great results next time you take floral photographs. Article rating: 7.93

Ok, so you’re on this great trip, and there’s an expansive field of flowers in front of you. Ecstatic, you begin shooting away, only to find, upon return, that your floral pictures leave much to be desired. What happened?

Most of us like to take pictures of flowers, but most are pretty boring, and seem to only appeal to those who have taken them. How can we make flower photos more memorable, so that we’ll rejoice in our capture and gather the accolades of our friends and family? 

Simply put, you have to try harder. Many people stand right in front of a floral image, press the button, and hope for a miracle. To get good flower pictures, you have to get out of your comfort zone.

Have you ever tried using a macro lens?  I have several Canon lenses that are compatible with my Canon Elan when I use film-based cameras, and also work great with my Canon Digital Rebel XT.  The macro lens is a great tool for floral images. This lens will isolate certain parts of your image and really make the details stand out.  Move your camera around and try focusing on certain areas of the flower to see what appeals to you, and shoot away. You can experiment with depth of field so that varying areas are in focus.

Hibiscus
This was shot early morning in Bora Bora right after an early morning rain. By focusing on the details, I was able to make this portion of the flower the pivotal point in the picture.

If you’re using film-based cameras, you can also experiment with various types of film. I’ve found that Fujifilm Velvia slide film is great for color saturation. Here’s one example.

Yellow Hibiscus
I found this image in the Bahamas, right outside my hotel. Macro lenses can make all the difference in creating images with a dreamy quality that are often abstract in nature.

Simplifying the background of your image will also help in your photo efforts. See if you can isolate your image to avoid distractions.

Flower in Black
At the time, I wasn’t aware that the background behind this image was black, but it really helped make the flower stand out.

You can also look for unusual patterns to help make an image come to life.  Photography, like many forms of investigation, requires you to sleuth out the extraordinary.  Patterns are in abundance in nature, if you know where to look for them. Again, Fujifilm Velvia was used, resulting in some extraordinary color saturation.

Wet Leaf
I found this leaf while walking in the early morning to my cabana in Bora Bora.

Sometimes you really need to get into nature to come up with great images.  See that flowerbed over there? Go ahead, get right into it and start shooting.  You’ll be amazed at what you can find if you immerse yourself in your surroundings. Stoop, get on your back, shoot upwards, bend, and get out of your comfort zone. Great photos often are the result of taking chances.

Tulips
While touring the Huntington Library in Los Angeles, I was fascinated with all the tulips on the premises. I got down on my stomach on the periphery of the tulip bed and started my photographic journey.

You can also look for textures that are eye popping. Bark is not just bark, but a symphony of color if you have a keen eye.

Bark
Look what the humidity did to this tree trunk. Use your saturation and sharpening tools to bring out the details.

The employment of light is always essential in photography. Early morning and late afternoon are great times to take images, as the play of light can really augment a photo.

Cactus
While in Phoenix, I was amazed at the detail of this cactus, accentuated by the early morning light in the garden.

Crop your images to make them more interesting. Don’t just center the flower in the middle of the shot. Employ the rule of thirds or other compositional techniques to make your images more appealing.

Juicy Flower
I moved my camera a bit to position this image differently.

By shifting your floral images to black and white, a whole new spectrum of possibilities can open up.  Without the crutch of color, your images take on a new dimension.

Palm Trees
While in Palm Springs, I decided to see what would happen if I used black and white film.

Even if it’s midday, you don’t have to abandon your camera. Look for the light source, and sometimes you can find some unusual patterns, textures, and shapes to help illuminate your images.

Temecula Grape Leaf
This image was initially shot in color, but I converted it to black and white, and increased the contrast to bring out the details.

Afraid of the dark? Don’t be. Shooting at night can be very exciting, if you open yourself up to new possibilities.

Floral Moon
I was planning on taking a telephoto shot of the moon, when this floral pattern presented itself.  With long exposures, you can obtain interesting images. Make sure you use a tripod strong enough to steady your camera. Long lenses can be heavy, and can throw the tripod off balance if your tripod is too light. My Bogen is very sturdy and even survived my hike to Vernal Falls in Yosemite when I traveled with it years ago. Make sure you bracket, so that you have several images from which to choose.

In summary, good floral images can be obtained, simply by getting outside your comfort zone.  Don’t just stand there. Get into some clothing that enables you to move. Then see what happens!

Mary McGrath is a freelance writer and photographer who has been published in many publications including Rangefinder, WPPI, Shutterbug, and Photographer’s Forum. She can be reached at grathy@aol.com or through her web site at:
www.marymcgrathphotography.com

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	Really enjoyed your article on flowers. They are my favorite passtime. I found it helpful and educational to say the least. Thanks for writing it Ron Posted by: Ron Smith Jan 19, 2007 @ 4:12 PM EST
	Excellent article. A lot of very helpful information on taking new and different photos of flowers. New ideas to think about. Posted by: Wanda Talcott Jan 19, 2007 @ 9:51 PM EST
	REALLY ENJOYED YOUR ARTICLE. IT GOT ME THINKING AGAIN Posted by: WALTER THOMAS Jan 20, 2007 @ 1:47 PM EST
	Our backyard flowers are my favored non-people picture subjects. This article is full of tips that can be used anywhere. Posted by: Troy Morehouse Jan 21, 2007 @ 6:57 AM EST
	very creative eye ,great motivation for really seeing what you're looking at Posted by: jjerry lidsky Jan 27, 2007 @ 11:44 PM EST
	Thanks so much for this inspiration. My camera has been on the shelf for months, and now I can't wait to charge it up again and get out there! Posted by: Logibbons Jan 31, 2007 @ 8:19 AM EST
	It's nice Posted by: jana Apr 8, 2007 @ 10:49 AM EST
	great Posted by: samar May 26, 2007 @ 4:0 AM EST
	Muy buen articulo para los "rookie" como yo, y esta tan bien explicado que me agradaria compartir con usted algunas de las fotos tomadas con sus sugerencias. Posted by: Ulizabeth Jun 4, 2007 @ 12:7 PM EST

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