Rinda posted some questions about wildflower shots on her blog. Last summer I had the same problems with fields of wildflowers that she had this weekend. The flowers were beautiful, but I couldn’t capture the overall look of it. Individual flower shots were more successful. (Also true for Rinda who has a beautiful shot on her blog.) I remember reading up on it when I got home, and today I looked in two of my “go-to” photography books (Brian Peterson’s Digital Photography Field Guide & Tom Ang’s How To Photography Absolutely Everything) to see what I could find. Neither book had great explanations, but I could tell from looking at the photos that they were taken either at ground level or just above. My neighbor’s front yard is filled with dandelions and wildflowers so I went over to see what I could do. I’m not totally pleased with the outcome, but they are certainly better than anything I took last summer. For the first two photos, I was laying on my stomach at the same level as the flowers. I’m not sure why I couldn’t get more of the flowers in sharp focus. I tried changing my aperture, but it made very little difference.
The next two I took on my knees looking down on top of the flowers. I prefer these shots.
I’d welcome any ideas you have for taking this kind of shot.
They all look great to me, Karen – I like the soft look of the first pair, and I like that you can see more of the flowers clearly in the second pair! I really need to learn more about photography myself, I’m working on it. It’s lovely to see the work of those who are more experienced and to learn from them, so thank you for sharing xx
thanks for these ideas – i was really frustrated trying to take snowdrops earlier in the year so will try getting lower next time
Thanks for posting this Karen – I love the blogosphere. What lens were you using? I kept thinking my problem was the 50 mm fixed lens, but your pictures tell me that I probably would have done no better if I took the time to swap it out. Hmmmm.
I do think the last shot is the most successful. And thanks for the links you left on my blog.
Rinda
Rinda, I used my 50mm lens for all four shots. Maybe tomorrow I’ll try my telephoto lens.
I commented on Rinda’s blog about Scott Kelby and his advice. Dawn or dusk and unusual perspectives – like your first shots I suppose?
I think the telephoto would make a difference and a wide angle gives interesting results as well, I like the 50mm for people but I wouldn’t use that for nature shots …. still figuring it out myself!
These are beautiful shots! I love the first two the best, I like the sharp up close, then the more fuzzy background… though the clearness of the second two are very pretty too. I think tomorrow I will post my wildflower pictures on my blog from this year…but the are single flowers as well, I do have better luck with those too.
You know me, I have no tips on photography to offer at all..but I love to enjoy your pictures and I’m learning to appreciate the difference between good and bad shots because of great posts like this. Thanks Karen 🙂
I think a telephoto will definitely help.
Leslie at A Creative Mint has some beautiful shots from a field of ranculus that are inspiring:
http://acreativemint.typepad.com/a_creative_mint/2010/04/color-me-pretty-time.html
I think a fast shutter speed is also helpful, because the slightest breeze makes the petals move and so the focus is not as sharp as it could be.
Can’t give you any tips, but I sure do enjoy your pictures. I think they are all beautiful.
Very pretty flowers and pictures, Karen!
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