Culture Magazine

How to Photograph Flowers

By Simon Crowther @prestigeflower

How to photograph flowers

When you search for photos of flowers online, you will surely come across various professional and amateur photographs. When you come across a stunning flower in your garden or when you are out and about, this image can be captured so that you can display it somewhere in your home for all to see. That said, photography is an art and, when it comes to floral subjects, there are a few techniques that you should keep in mind.

The first thing to consider is the way the flower is framed and angled in your shot. You can use the 'rule of thirds' to centre the image. That said, the flower does not have to be perfectly centred. You can deliberately photograph it off-centre for an even more natural appearance. Take note of the direction of the sun or any other source of light when you take the photo. If the light strikes your lens, the photo will not come out perfectly clear. In some cases, this effect is desirable. For example, if you snap a photo of a flower in the morning and that warm morning sun creates a slight blur, it can give the photo a warm feel to it. If you aim your camera from the ground up, the flower will also appear larger. The key is to experiment with several angles so that you have a number of options from which to choose.

As far as lighting is concerned, it's good to remember that your eyes and the lens of a camera do not perceive light in the same way. While a sunny day is great for looking at flowers, cloudy days are best for photographing them. Early morning and late afternoon are also the best times of day to photograph flowers.

The ideal photo will be perfectly clear and crisp. This means that you do not want to move at all while taking the photo. Our hands inevitably shake no matter how much we try to control them. This can result in blurred images. A tripod or similar stand will help you get the best results.

Once you have taken several photos, it's time to go through your selection and eliminate those that are not up to scratch. When you have your final few, you can then use your favourite photo editing software to add effects, enhance the image, or play around with colours. There are sharpening tools, blurring tools, and so many wonderful photo effects that can be added to make the picture even more unique and appealing. This hobby may start out small but, if you become serious about photography and photographing flowers, it will be worth your while to invest in a high-quality camera eventually.


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