It is hardly surprising that plant life is so popular amomg photographers.Wildlife,plants and fungi
are varied,beautiful and easily accessible subjects for everyone.Regardless of where you live,or
the equipment you own,great nature scenes are well within your reach and can make for stunning
images paxked with color.
The flow, color design and the delicacy of plants flowering and non
flowering make them popular and rewarding photographic subject. In frame
filling close up, phtographers can highlight fine detail and color while
from further away,plats can be shown in context with their surroundings,
by adopting shallow depth of field or creatively using subject or camera
motion, photographers are able to capture abstract or painterly results.Plants
can be vibrant, tall, dull, or low growing,form large carpets of color, or be
found growing singurlarly.some have colorful, impressive blossoms,while
others,like fungi and lichen, dont flower at all. With such great variety
and diversity within the natural world,there is never a risk of running out
inspiration.
As the season change, photographers are preseted with fresh subjects
and photo oppurtunities.During spring,new growth is everywhere.Visit
woodlands, parks, gardens to discover delicately unfurling ferns,emerging
leaves,swathes of blue bells and colorful blossom. During the fsummer
months,the countryside is brimimng with color Meadows nurture a wide
array of wildflowers, while foxgloves and whillowherb stand tall along
headgrows and banks. When summer gives way to fall, foliage turns
golden,the light softens and while many plants stop flowering, the sudden
emergence of weird and wonderfully shaped toadstools and fungi present
new challenges for nature photographers to enjoy.
When you look at great nature images for example, the work of german
photographer sandra bartocha they lokk stningly effortless. However ,great
shots are rarely accidental. Although plants are static subjects meaning
photographers are enjoy a greatdegree of control over the look of the final
image highlighting a plants beauty, form and design in a single frame is still
far fromeasy. In fact,in some respects,the level control plant photographers
have over their results just adds to the pressure to get things right both
technically and aestically. Simplicity is the soften key,while background
choice and lightning are also particularly important when photographing
plants.A clean, flattering backgdrop,free of any distraction, will help your
subjects stand out boldly, while the lights quality and direction will dictate
the images mood and help hightlight fine detail.
Plants,in all their many guises,provide great subject matter of photography.
It is time to hone your close up skills and begin exploring the wonderful
world of plants.Read on to learn how to shoot a variety of flora...
24
Outdoor Photography APRIL 2014
Working in the wind
Although plants are static subjects,they
can be badly effect ed by wind.Tall
flowers are particularly prone to the
movement in breezy conditions,making
it difficult to focus and compose images
in natural light.Plant photography is
best attempted in still conditions,with a
wind speed below 10mph. However it
is not always possible to be this choosy.
Light, intermittent winds wont create
too many problems just wait for a brief
pause in the breeze before quickly fine
turning focus and triggering the shutter.
In windbreak.You can make your own
windbreak using heavy,clear polythene
held in position by aluminium rods.
Alternatively, the lastolite cubelite
will help shield small subjects and also
diffuse harsh directional light. Another
option is to use a Wimberly Plamp a ball
and socket segmented arm,with a clamp
fixed at either end. One can fasten to
your tripod leg, while the other holds
your subject still. However, be car