Photographing Water Lilies

Bryan K

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Jul 1, 2002, 10:54:14 PM7/1/02

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Question: Is it normally desirable to have reflections in a pond of
water lilies? I took a few shots of a pond filled with water lilies.
Several shots, I got rid of the reflections in the frame, while in
other pictures I left them in. Personally, I like them in, but I was
wondering what you all thought.

Also, note that the shots were tight crops of just a few leafs and a
flower or two.

Thanks,
bryan

-B-

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Jul 1, 2002, 11:30:37 PM7/1/02

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Maybe the reflections work, maybe they don't it depends on the shot
individually I would think, but I'm sure that their will be more opinions
about this shortly

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Alan Justice

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Jul 2, 2002, 1:51:33 AM7/2/02

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Sorry, but it's kind of a silly question. You want a RULE on how to
photgraph something. Even the "Rule of thirds" is only a guideline. The
only real rules are those like: Smaller apertures result in greater depth
of field. You need to critically evaluate what you want to do and develop
your own rules. For macro flower shots my own rule is to get maximum DOF;
others prefer to focus on one particular aspect, letting the rest go out of
focus. Who's right? We all are, if we get what we want. ( And BTW, of
course you need to oirehanioua;seu the reflections!)

-Alan Justice

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Ron Ginsberg

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Jul 2, 2002, 10:13:34 AM7/2/02

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You may want a compromise that can vary with each individual
composition.

Depending on lighting angle, weather, and other conditions, you may wish
to consider also using a polarisor to reduce the surface reflections on
the plant surface itself to avoid distracting highlights and avoid those
that reduce the apparent color saturation in the resulting photograph.

In some cases you may also wish to partially show with some surface
reflection transparency on the water surface a portion of the plant
below the surface, again using the polarisor adjusted appropriately.

The ideas expressed here are to make the resulting image appear perhaps
more like what the viewer would see if actually present to view the
subject. The camera can not automaticly compensate for what might be
considered the viewer's physcological visual adjustments made when
present at the scene.

Alan Browne

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Jul 2, 2002, 7:51:43 PM7/2/02

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There is no right answer as to what's "normally desirable" (although a
5'11" blonde with...) with respect to reflections. Like fire, they can
be your friend or enemy.

I believe it goes to composition. For example, if the pond is dead flat
calm, and the angle of incidence of the light produces patches of
reflection from the sky, perhaps catching some trees in the reflection,
then you might end up with a well layered composition including the
bottom of the pond, pond surface, pond edges, trees reflected, trees on
far side of pond, sky, clouds... Getting all of these into a pleasant
and attractive composition is a reward in itself...

If you were trying to narrow and isolate the subject (water lilies and
the carp swimming by), then a circular polarizer to reduce the
reflections might help in the reduction of distracting reflections...

If you liked the refections in some shots, then probably they enhanced
the image the right way. If you had said "I liked the images where I
got rid..." then probably they were a distraction in the others...

Cheers,
Alan.

street shooter

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Jul 3, 2002, 1:05:38 AM7/3/02

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If you want to see good pictures of water lilies check out Monet's
series of paintings on the subject. Though you cannot duplicate the
impressionistic abstraction (or maybe you can), I think Monet's use of
light and compositional arrangement will be a great source of
inspiration for you. An understanding of great art makes it easier to
create great art.

Michael

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Alan Justice

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Jul 3, 2002, 12:47:17 PM7/3/02

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Good point. Photographers do have a lot we can learn from the paint
masters. Bierstadt, Moran, etc. for scenics.

-Alan Justice

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Pieter Litchfield

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Jul 3, 2002, 1:58:18 PM7/3/02

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so this is what the "f64" movement was all about - imitating dead
painters.....?

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