Posting Eleven

"How to Wow Those Judges – Part Two"

This four part article, which appeared in The Lens Tissue, the newsletter for the Greater Brockton Camera Club, was authored by Jack Alexander, former member of HDP.

Flowers are always a popular subject for competitions so let’s take a closer look at some dos and don’ts when photographing them. 

With these petaled wonders, you should seek out that perfect specimen, taking extreme care to avoid selecting one with damaged or wilted petals. Now, check the background – is it distracting or flattering? Any debris to clear? Often an out-of-focus background offers the best scenario. In any event whatever is behind your intended subject should not draw attention AWAY from the flower.

If you have selected your macro (gets you in tight to fill the frame) for this floral shoot, I trust you have your trusty tripod (allows a slower shutter speed for increased depth of field) set up as well. I have found the use of fill flash creates a desirable effect whether indoor or outside.

Here are a few helpful hints on floral photography:
1.   Think about allowing the stem to enter from the bottom or lower left at a curve or an angle – as long as it’s not straight up. (With our digital darkroom capabilities, cropping and or flipping might get you the same angling).

2.   If you decided to shoot more than one specimen of the flower, try to remember the Rule of Odds – an odd number of subjects is more pleasing than an even number.

3.   If two flowers are in your viewfinder, make every attempt to have them of different sizes. If they are in alignment or the same size, they will fight with each other for the judge’s attention!

4.   If you are using a flash, try to move it off-camera to give the effect of side lighting, which adds shape to your subject.

5.   If you’re using a false background, take extra care that the subject’s shadow doesn’t look staged.

6.   For an interesting look try to position the sun directly behind your intended subject. This works really well with florals – sometimes referred to as trans-illumination.

Well, what are you waiting for, go out and buy a bouquet and set up a still life right in the confines of your home. . .