I’ve been shooting a lot of flowers lately. They’re one of my favorite things to photograph. I’m no flower expert, but I like to think I’ve gotten pretty good at showcasing them.

I’ve been told that a how-to tutorial would be a good thing to share, so I’m happy to oblige. These are tips and tricks that work well for me. If they’re helpful for you, that’s awesome. If not, try checking out other photography resources for more comprehensive tricks of the trade. (A note to my point-and-shoot readers: Most of these tips are applicable, regardless of what type of camera you’re using.)

Now! Let’s begin!

1. Pick the right time of day. I prefer to avoid full sunlight, which means shooting in the morning or late afternoon. Shooting in full sunlight is like shining a bright flashlight on your subject, making the light way too harsh. Shooting in the morning or afternoon is like holding a lit lampshade next to the flower. It’s soft light that compliments the subject. (Hint: Cloudy days are also excellent days for photographing flowers!)

You can see in in this photo how the sunlight has blown out (or harshly lit) part of the rose. I took advantage of the fact that its own petals shadowed the center and used that as my focal point.

This rose was partially shaded by a tree, but I really liked how the dappled light played off the color striations, so I went with it. The light also lit the center of the bloom nicely.

2. HOWEVER. If you have to shoot during mid-day, you can utilize your shadow. Try to position yourself between the sun and your subject, and voila! Instant light diffuser!

The roses in these two pictures were in full sun, but I simply positioned myself so that my shadow fell over them.

3. If you have a DSLR or SLR camera, shoot in the widest aperture (i.e. the lowest number) you can. This will give you that creamy, beautiful bokeh or background blur everyone loves so much.

Both of these photos were shot at f/1.8.

4. Focus carefully. Flowers can move a lot, even in the smallest breeze. (Point-and-shooters: Try using Manual focus if your camera has that capability.)

5. Play with different angles. Sure, almost every flower will look beautiful when you look straight down at it, but they’re also beautiful from the sides, even shooting up from underneath.

6. Try to show scale. If you have a small flower, try to frame it with its surroundings to show the size. If it’s large, including an insect in the shot is always great for comparison.

7. Details, details, details! Find them!

8. If you’re using a point-and-shoot camera, try using it in Manual mode. Play around with your settings and you can often achieve the same results as an SLR camera.

9. Don’t disturb the flowers. You want to document them, not destroy them.

10. The most important rule is to enjoy it! It will show if you aren’t!

I hope these tips help even a little bit. One of the best tips I can offer is simply to get out there and shoot!

Here are this week’s Adoptables from the Lange Foundation!

This beautiful girl is Lucy Las Vegas, and she’s incredibly sweet. She’s just waiting for the perfect home. Maybe yours?

Fluffy Colin is just a little fluffball of white fluff. Have I mentioned he’s super fluffy?

And Talor is a spunky little girl who wants to check everything out. What an adorable pup!

Mary, Mary, quite contrary. How does your lovely fur grow?

Tyler is a very playful pup! He’s got loads of energy and personality to boot!

Now! Onto the cats!

Checkers is a gorgeous kitty. Look at those eyes!

Kristen wasn’t too crazy about my camera.

But she’s still a total diva!

Robert’s such a handsome boy!

Chloe’s also a little shy, but look at that gorgeous coat!

And last, but not least, we have Peggy. She’s a three-legged cat, but that doesn’t stop her from getting around. She wrapped herself around my ankle and purred and purred!

Alright. Now for the usual call to action: If you’re interested in any of these animals, please head to the Lange Foundation and give them a home!

Lange Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to saving homeless and abandoned pets, and preparing them for a journey to a new, safe, loving world.

Lange Foundation
http://www.langefoundation.com/
2106 S. Sepulveda Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90025
Phone: 310-473-5585

Look closely. See the furry dude standing in the road? He was meant to be the focal point of this photo. But sadly, I didn’t have the right lens on my camera and he scampered away before I could change it. So in the meantime, enjoy this photo of a lovely “Road Closed” sign and a gravel road. Happy Friday!

There’s not much I can say about the Carrizo Plains National Monument other than it’s one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever visited. It sits in a valley right alongside the San Andreas Fault and it’s one of the few remaining natural grasslands in California. If you’re ever in need of some solitude from the hustle and bustle of city life, I’d highly recommend driving out to see the Carrizo Plains. Especially during wildflower season!

Carpets of yellow flowers cover some of the hillsides and valley floor.

In the middle of Carrizo Plains is Soda Lake, a giant salt lake. There’s a lot of salt deposited around the lake (yeah, I’m no scientist) and the contrast between the white salt & yellow flowers is striking.

This is one of my favorite shots of the day. You’re looking at flower carpets on the San Andreas Fault. (No worries, Mom. There was no shaking, quaking, or any other movement you might consider dangerous.)

I really loved visiting here (if it wasn’t obvious). I hope to come back and see it again during next year’s wildflower season!

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