Getting started with flower photography
Flower photography is frustrating for beginners because your images don’t come out like you expect them to. You are inspired by dreamy, ethereal macro images or sun-dappled, atmospheric wild flower meadows but your shots seem dull and possibly a bit out of focus. How do you get from where you are to where you want to be?
Back to basics
Exposure
Do you know how to tell if your shots are under- or over-exposed? You won’t make meaningful progress until you know how your camera is making its exposure. If this is your weakest link, do at least the first six weeks of my beginner’s course which is free by email:
Settings
If you know how to expose then start with these settings:
For blurred backgrounds: aperture priority mode, f1.2 (or whatever your largest size aperture is), ISO100
For front-to-back focus: aperture priority mode, f16, ISO100
If you’re outside and it’s windy: shutter priority mode, 1/250th, auto ISO
If you’re shooting into the sun: +2 stops exposure compensation.
Making progress
Teach yourself how to deconstruct images you aspire to take.
what lighting was used?
what aperture?
which is the focal flower?
what story is the photographer telling?
If you want help making progress join Emma’s online course, The Art of Flower Photography. It runs once a year, you have lifetime access and it opens for registration 11 May 2021.
Help with the basics
Emma’s beginner’s photography course, A Year With My Camera, will get you up and running in a matter of weeks. The email version is free; join here and get started today.
