Boy Over Flower Photo Gallery Download ((HOT))
Wendy Akerson
I've been writing for a month. And I've missed the time I used to set aside for actually taking photos - not for any reason, just to take them. So I'm setting myself an arbitrary challenge: one fine art flower photograph a week, for a year, to keep me inspired whilst I'm writing. My definition of fine art photography is something you would put on your wall and happily look at every day for at least a year, so that's the only stipulation.
This beauty is a Smith & Munsen tulip, which I was taking photographs of fresh out of the ground just over a week ago for The British Flowers Book. They open up to show folds and curves that are completely hidden when they are closed up and typically tulip looking.
The reality is that you need a macro lens, close-up lens or extension tube to get really creative with close-up photos of flowers (more on both of those in a bit). But at the same time you may be surprised just how close you can get with the (non-macro) lenses you already own.
On October the 21st, 1967, almost 100,000 people marched on Washington, D.C. to peacefully demonstrate around the buildings of the Pentagon in protest against the war in Vietnam. Then a Magnum photographer, Marc Riboud documented proceedings. The last frame he captured was that of 17-year-old Jan Rose Kasmir as she held up a chrysanthemum flower to a row of bayonet-wielding National Guard soldiers.
Florals: You can find so many different kinds of florals that look amazing in photos! Smaller, spaced out floral patterns look awesome, and so do larger florals. I also really love a simple floral pattern where the background is one color, and the flowers are another (like the orange floral pattern in the collage below). You can even find floral patterns that are busy but still look great!
Anne Belmont is a nature photographer specializing in flower photography. Her first career as an art therapist shaped the way that she views art and reinforced her belief in the healing power of both art and nature in our lives. Now, she shares her own vision of the natural world through photography. A regular at the Chicago Botanic Garden, she was commissioned by the Garden to do a solo exhibition of her orchid photography, displayed in 20 larger-than-life panels during the 2015, 2016, and 2017 Orchid Shows.
Although I began experimenting with Lensbaby early in my flower photography days, it wasnt until the Velvet 56mm came onto the scene in 2015 that I fell completely in love with Lensbaby. That lens had me head over heels from the first shot I took. It is the perfect companion for flower photography, allowing me to get in close to my subjects and create photographs with that signature ethereal glow that the Velvet is known for. I remember uploading those first images with the Velvet and gasping at the magic that lens captured. Since then, I have rediscovered the fun and creativity that the Composer Pro and the various optics can bring to my photography, as well.
I photographed this soft pink dahlia soon after I got the Velvet 56mm. I was stunned when I saw this image on my computer screen. Where did that color and beautiful light come from, let alone that background? This flower was shot in an indoor dahlia show at the Chicago Botanic Garden where the lighting was poor and backgrounds were difficult to control. I quickly realized the power of the Velvet for creating beautiful images straight out of camera, even in less than optimal lighting and conditions.
I approach each flower I photograph differently. I ask myself what story I want to tell about that flower. Do I want to bring your eye to the details throughout the flower or do I want to draw your eye to a particular part of the flower a curl of a petal or a drop of dew using selective focus? By using selective focus and isolating details I began to see flowers differently, to focus in on more abstract elements within the flower. Often, I simply want to draw your eye to a beautiful, graceful line, a curve, a pattern or a texture within the flower. Sometimes it is simply about capturing the essence of the flower in an ethereal way.
Another dahlia captured with the Composer Pro, Sweet 50 optic with macro converters produced that sweet spot of focus surrounded by blur to create an abstract image reminiscent of flames. When I photograph flowers, I work my subject, composing in a variety of ways and from many different angles. Doing this has helped me to see flowers in a whole new way.
I love the way the Velvet created a painterly, impressionistic feel to this freshly watered dahlia. One of my favorite times to capture flowers is following a rain shower, after their early morning watering or while covered in morning dew. Water droplets and dew drops add such textural interest and character to a flower.
Echinopsis or cactus flowers bloom during the summer months in our Arid Greenhouse at Chicago Botanic Garden. In the past I always photographed these flowers fully in focus to capture the details and texture of the magnificent blooms. Experimenting and trying new things is key, or we tend to come up with the same results again and again. I put on the Velvet, not sure whether I was going to like the effect with these flowers. I should have known what that lens was capable of!
So, what does a flower photographer do during the long winters of Chicago? We are blessed with conservatories, greenhouses and a world class Orchid Show. I am never at a loss for subjects even when I cant photograph flowers outdoors. Other botanical subjects such as ferns are wonderful subjects indoors. The Velvet creates the perfect amount of dreaminess for capturing ferns and brings a softness to orchids, one of the most difficult flowers to photograph.
These photos are viewable courtesy of University of California research and extension personnel and programs, including the UC Statewide IPM Program for the photos related to flower and fruit development.
My preferred lens for photographing aquatic blooms is a 70-300mm telephoto lens. Any longer focal length zoom will work. I am often zoomed to 300mm to get in as close as possible to capture details within the flower. For photographing flowers close to the edge, I might switch over to my 100mm or 180mm macro photography lens. If I am close enough to my subject I love to create a softer image with my Lensbaby Velvet 85mm. A wide angle lens is preferred if you are capturing a larger view of an aquatic pond.
I am often asked how I capture dark backgrounds in my water lily and lotus images. Shooting in overcast light will help control your backgrounds by eliminating the hot spots and reflections caused by harsher light. Positioning yourself will also make a difference. Before putting your camera on a tripod or pressing that shutter button, move around a bit looking through your viewfinder to see what angle/position creates the best, least distracting background. Cloning out roots or debris in the water may be necessary in post processing but positioning can often eliminate a lot of work later. The biggest factor in those nice backgrounds is the fact that most aquatic gardens add a harmless black dye to the water. The dye helps control algae growth and make the pond appear deeper and more aesthetically pleasing. It is a great bonus for photographers, as well. It darkens out root systems and pots below the surface and makes post processing much simpler. Another strategy I use when photographing aquatic flowers is to underexpose slightly to help further darken the water and bring out the intense color of the flowers.
Waterlilies and lotuses are a favorite subject for summer flower photography. Most botanic gardens have waterlily ponds or lakes where these flowers are abundant and easy to capture. Plan your visit for an overcast day, or better yet, try to catch the waterlilies right after a rain, covered with raindrops. Pack that longer zoom so you can get in close and capture the details of these beautiful flowers and, as always, experiment with compositions and apertures to create different effects.
Have you ever wondered what a Gerbera looks like? Or how to care for the beautiful African violet you received? This section will help you answer these questions and more with its photographs, descriptions, special care tips and other interesting facts for many common flower and plant varieties. Be sure to ask your florist about their fresh flowers in stock.
Flowers and plants are decorative and not meant to be eaten. As with any non-food product, some flowers and plants can have varying effects on pets if ingested. Visit the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals for a list of Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants. Rover.com also lists Plants Safe for Dogs and Cats.
Getting down to the level of your subject also makes your subject appear much bigger than it is. The low shooting angle in both of these photos gives the impression that the flowers are looming over the viewer, making them much more impressive than if shot from above.
Often we get so focused on the intricate detail of a single flower that we forget to take a step back and look at the whole scene in front of us. While close-up shots are stunning, in certain situations showing the wider surroundings will make for a more engaging photo.
Maybe there are several flowers that would make a good composition, or possibly even an entire field of flowers that create a wonderful blanket of bright color. Including some of the surroundings in your flower photos can add context to your image, telling a more complete story about where you were.
Flowers are great subjects for experimenting with your creativity, both with shooting and post-processing. One technique that I love to use when photographing flowers indoors is to capture their shadow on a wall.
However you decide to photograph or edit your flower photos, always remember to do whatever you can to emphasize their amazing color, form and intricate detail. Thinking about the light, background and shooting angle will help you to make the most of their natural beauty.
df19127ead