Flower Photography – Composition, Lighting and Camera Settings
Flowers are a popular subject for photography. Learn how to capture stunning photos of flowers using composition, lighting and camera settings techniques.
Use a macro lens to get close to the flower and capture details like petals and pollen-heavy anthers. Avoid cluttered compositions by removing distracting elements and using negative space.
Composition
Composition is the process of placing your subjects in a way that conveys the desired mood and purpose of the photograph. In flower photography this can include avoiding distracting elements in the background or looking for high contrasting colors to make your subject pop.
Using your aperture to control the depth of field and blur the background can also be an interesting compositional element. This requires some experimentation and a good understanding of your lens.
Color is a powerful tool in any type of photography. Using a palette based on complementary colors can create high contrast and make your subject pop. Using black and white photos can also help focus attention on shapes and textures for a minimalistic effect.
Try capturing multiple flowers in one shot to create a more interesting composition or even a series of flowers that are at different stages of blooming. Look for designs and patterns in the petals and zoom in to highlight details that might not be obvious at first glance.
Light
When taking photos of flowers, the quality of light can make or break a photo. Soft light produces low contrast and a softer image, while hard light can produce intense highlights and shadows. If possible, try to capture your photos in soft light – this is usually easy when the weather is nice and overcast.
Also be sure to take into consideration the wind when shooting flowers – it can easily ruin your photos by blowing the flower around and blurring it. A tripod can help prevent this by stabilizing your camera, especially at close range and when using a wide aperture.
Depending on the type of photo you want to create, you may also consider back-lighting your subject (the sun is behind the flower) as this can highlight fine details like ‘hairiness’ and texture. It can also add a sense of drama to a photo. However, be careful as harsh back-light can cast unwanted shadows on the flower and cause it to look unnatural.
Camera Settings
When working with close-up or macro photography, you may want to experiment with your aperture settings. Aperture is responsible for determining the amount of background blur in your image. A lower aperture will result in more background blur, while a larger aperture setting allows you to focus on the detail of your subject.
Aside from adjusting the parameters of your existing Picture Styles, you can also create custom Picture Styles to capture unique looks. You can find the option in your camera’s menu or in Digital Photo Professional software.
The best times for flower photography are early morning and at dusk to make the most of warm, natural light. The even lighting you get on a cloudy day also works well for this type of photography, as it will help to produce faithful colors and soft tonal gradations. If you’re shooting in bright sunlight, you may need to use exposure compensation, as some areas of your image might be overexposed, resulting in “blown highlights”.
Processing
There are a few ways to get close-ups of flowers without the use of extension tubes or close-up filters that reduce image quality. One way is to zoom in and focus on the flower head or individual petals. Another way is to move your camera back and frame the flower in a wider shot.
The important thing is to make sure that you have enough light for the photo you want to take. You can adjust the ISO sensitivity to increase the light your sensor captures and avoid having the photo become grainy.
You can also create a sense of negative space by blurring the background, which makes your flower stand out and draws the viewer’s eye towards it. You can do this in post-production using software like Lightroom or Photoshop. This is a great way to add interest to your photograph and make it look more professional.