FLOWER PEEPS could use some help/advice

[Barbara Ponder]

In the part of Texas in which I live, we have an abundance of wild flowers. The main one being our State Flower, the Bluebonnet. Every true Texan has at least one (usually 1 for each year) pictures of the Bluebonnets and usually it is of their young child sitting in them. I being a BAD Texan have only one photo of my child, which was taken last year, and he is 14. The only way he would "pose" was with his beloved dog as he insisted he was too old to do it.

I became fascinated with taking close up (I had just gotten my 100mm macro lens for my birthday) and strange angles of the "famous" flower. I would love to reshoot these this year, minus the child ,as he said no way in HELL will he do that again (teenagers gotta love them), with great improvement. I am sure that you will be able to help me in this as you always provide excellent information and suggestions. Any and all help is appreciated. So without further ado, here are the shots from last year. Suggest away..........

[Stagecoach]

Barbara, how about getting low and shooting up?

Do you have a wide angle, if so get down low with that.

[Barbara Ponder]

Grahame, I do have one. I like that idea! I rarely use that lens so I will need to play with it.

[AlwaysOnAuto]

Are you using a tripod?
In my quest for the flower shot that'll win the hearts and minds of all those here at CiC, I've found a tripod to be an indispensable piece of equipment.

[Barbara Ponder]

Are you using a tripod?
In my quest for the flower shot that'll win the hearts and minds of all those here at CiC, I've found a tripod to be an indispensable piece of equipment.

I am not using my tripod, I do have a couple and I need to utilize them!

[Saorsa]

Your shots look pretty good but often the subject flower blends into another in the background. If necessary, pluck a couple of the ones that overlap.

[Barbara Ponder]

Your shots look pretty good but often the subject flower blends into another in the background. If necessary, pluck a couple of the ones that overlap.

Up until yesterday I thought that would be illegal, sad but true. Now that I know I won't go to jail, I will do just that! Thanks Brian!

[Barnwell]

I like the second and third pictures.

[Barbara Ponder]

I like the second and third pictures.

Thank you!

[IzzieK]

I am having some early morning CiC difficult access that I nearly gave up. Now it is up again...

Anywho...these shots are very beautiful, especially #1 with it zoomed closer..and #3...looks like the whole field is a good exercise to do some different angle shots too. I know I would...I have heard of bluebonnet before and I wonder whether I have seen even just one...???

Can't offer you any help at all in flower shots as I too am just learning...starting from early yesterday afternoon...

[JohnRostron]

I prefer the third and fourth!

John

[Shadowman]

Nicely done.

[Barbara Ponder]

I am having some early morning CiC difficult access that I nearly gave up. Now it is up again...

Anywho...these shots are very beautiful, especially #1 with it zoomed closer..and #3...looks like the whole field is a good exercise to do some different angle shots too. I know I would...I have heard of bluebonnet before and I wonder whether I have seen even just one...???



Can't offer you any help at all in flower shots as I too am just learning...starting from early yesterday afternoon...

Thanks Izzie. I don't think they are just in our area although we are famous for them! I would imagine you have seen them and didn't even notice.

[Barbara Ponder]

I prefer the third and fourth!

John

Thanks John!

[Barbara Ponder]

Nicely done.

Thanks John!

[HaseebM]

Never seen such a vivid blue flower, good captures. The first composition would be a nice candidate for focus stacking indoors or perhaps without breeze, a quick three point focus stack.

[Barbara Ponder]

Never seen such a vivid blue flower, good captures. The first composition would be a nice candidate for focus stacking indoors or perhaps without breeze, a quick three point focus stack.

Haseeb, Thanks! The color had a bit of a boost with PP But it is a VERY blue flower in nature. I will have too look into stacking as I am not familiar with it. If it is a PP thing it will be awhile as I am just learning the basics.

[Geoff F]

Firstly, Barbara, you are shooting in strong sunshine which always causes problems with some areas over exposing while others are in deep shadow. Lightly overcast skies usually work best. As an alternative, for my Project 2015 which is botanical subjects, I purchased a Lastolite Difflector to reduce brightness on my subjects. This really makes a big difference but you do have to guard against overly slow shutter speeds which can cause subject movement blur.

And the Difflector should also work for portraits, which is their intended use.

As a cheap alternative, try positioning a piece of card or part of your body to create light shadow. A cable release does help when I find myself with hands in the wrong position to press the camera button!

Or an alternative approach; spot meter for the brightest area and add some fill flash for the shadows. Set the camera for manual settings and vary the flash output compensation as required. That is what I frequently use for insects.

Regarding these images. Getting square on to the subject can help with focus depth but a narrow aperture or stacking is helpful. But wind rock can be a problem with stacking.

I spend a lot of time 'gardening' around my subject before shooting. Looking through the viewfinder and trying to spot anything which will adversely affect the composition and removing it, or at least bending some stalks etc so they are out of frame. But too often I still miss something obvious and then have to spend time cloning out something which could easily have been moved before shooting.

Isolating the subject, as mentioned, will help, although cropping to various size ratios often gives you an 'escape clause' during editing.

Choosing the best shooting angle has already been mentioned. But sometimes moving further away from a group subject will give better focus depth.

Plant photography in general is a complicated subject and when I started my Project 2015 I suddenly realised that I actually know a lot less about this subject than I thought I knew!

[Texas Dave]

Are these from this year? I heard the other day that we should expect a better than average bloom "explosion" this year due to the extend cool weather and ample rainfall. I'm so ready!

I like your photos but to be quit honest, I don't see any above average techniques in your flower photography that I often see in your birding adventures. In reading Geoff's post I realize there is so much more to really good flower frames and I get it! I tried to capture an albino Indian Paint Brush last year and I absolutely could not figure it out.

[Barbara Ponder]

Are these from this year? I heard the other day that we should expect a better than average bloom "explosion" this year due to the extend cool weather and ample rainfall. I'm so ready!

I like your photos but to be quit honest, I don't see any above average techniques in your flower photography that I often see in your birding adventures. In reading Geoff's post I realize there is so much more to really good flower frames and I get it! I tried to capture an albino Indian Paint Brush last year and I absolutely could not figure it out.

Dave, these were from last year before I ever came here and realized my shots needed MUCH improvement! We have a few around already this year but are expecting an abundance of them this year. I am trying to garner as much information to be able to improve dramatically from last year. They are so beautiful and such a symbol of our great State!