SHUTTERBUG PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS
Photo Tips: Flowers That Last Forever!
Flowers by their very nature only last a few weeks, some only a day or two.So how can you keep the memory of your perfect blooms for all to enjoy in perpetuity? With photographs of course!
The quality of your images will increase with specialised equipment,
but if you don’t get the basics right, it won’t matter what you spend on camera,lenses and film – your pics won’t turn out right.
Scan the garden, what leaps out at you?
Which flowers are saying, “Pick me!”
That’s the instinct that photographers call ‘the eye’ working.
Approach the likely subject. Examine your subject from different views
and pick your favourite. Keep in mind what first attracted you
to the subject so that you include that aspect in your pictures.
Colour goes a long way towards the success of your pictures.
Look particularly at the placement of colours around your subject.
Do you want the subject to blend in or to stand out?
Look for complimentary colours and colour reactions between the subject
and the surrounds that help to make your picture look special.
Flowers in the background, an interestingly coloured fence
and blue sky all make great backdrops.
Random bits of grass, leaves, twigs, buckets, watering cans,
plant tags and your feet are examples of visual clutter,
which can detract from your picture so move them out of the way.
Put the camera to your eye and check each corner of the viewfinder to make sure it’s all clear. Also carefully remove any flotsam that may be sitting on your subject. Of course if you are up on digital enhancement,
you can remove any sordid details on your computer, but is easier
to sort it out before you press the shutter button!
Pay attention to what your camera is doing. Most point and shoot cameras
are pretty sophisticated, but do keep a close eye on what it selects
as the most important thing and subsequently focuses on.
Over-ride your cameras settingsand a whole new world
of creative freedom will open up for you.
Experiment with the semi-automatic settings for a start.
‘Aperture Priority’ mode(all modern cameras have this setting)
allows you to choose depth of field, while the camera works out the rest,
allowing you to enjoy the picture taking process.
Always keep an eye on what the camera is doing -
tricky lighting can fool it!
Light is the key ingredient to successful pictures –
and also the hardest to master.
Harsh light – such as midday sun and flash causes hard shadows
and leaches the colour from your subject.
Shadows on film, appear darker than in real life
and will overpower your picture.
Overcast days are a joy, because shadows are held at bay,
and the colours of your garden will leap out.
Beg, borrow or buy a digital camera and experiment under different
lighting conditions so you can see straight away what the results are.
Fiddle around with the settings until you are happy.
It sure beats waiting for traditional film to come back
to discover the results are disastrous –
and by then your beautiful floral subject may have wilted
or been snacked upon by snails!
Blowy gusts are definitely the natural enemy of the photographer.
If you want your subject in focus, wait until the wind has died down or
if you must brave the elements, use your body as a windbreak to keep
your subject steady. A tripod can be a big help too!
And Finally: Take more than one picture!
Everything in life is worth doing well,
so experiment with a variety of angles and camera settings.
Your photo albums will become a joy because of it.
Pay attention to these points and you will be on your
way to producing your own works of art.
|
