Viewpoint
A photographer's viewpoint has a
significant bearing on the look of the final result, so select your shooting
angle carefully. Nature photographers are often advised to shoot from a
parallel angle, as this creates the most natural-looking perspective and will
also help maximise the depth-of-field available. Certainly shooting at eye
level will work in many circumstances, producing engaging and intimate results.
However, you should avoid getting in to the habit of always shooting at the
same angle as your images will begin to look repetitive and you won't always
capture the best result. Approach every subject with an open mind and don't be
afraid to adopt a low or overhead viewpoint. An overhead shooting angle is
particularly well suited to relatively flat, open flowers - like ox-eye
daisies, corn marigolds, roses and gerberas. Position your camera parallel
overhead and crop in tight to fill the frame. Placing the subject centrally can
work well in this instance, creating a feeling of symmetry. An overhead angle
will also prove effective when you wish to emphasise a subject's texture or
detail.
Viewpoint:
Shooting your subject from underneath gives a whole new dimension to your
flower photographs, making your subjectsappeartallerand more imposing.
The shift in perspective caused by simply
lowering or raising your camera angle can be hugely significant. When
photographing subjects significantly above eye-view, the subject immediately
looks smaller and less imposing. In contrast, when shot from a worm's-eye view,
a subject appears to loom larger. A low viewpoint can look very striking when
photographing flowers or fungi. Lie on the ground and point your camera upwards,
or, alternatively, hold your camera close to the ground and use a right-angle
finder or an articulated LCD to compose shots. It is best to use a wide-angle
or fisheye lens for the most striking results. Plants will appear artificially
tall and imposing, while flowers will stand out boldly against the sky. If the
sky is clear and blue, a polarising filter can saturate its colour further and
give your shots added punch.
Your viewpoint has a significant impact on
the strength of your composition, so always take a few moments to walk around
your subject and explore the possibilities before deciding on your shooting
angle.
Backgrounds & 'gardening'
It is easy to underestimatejust how
important a subject's background is and the overall effect it has. What you
exclude from the frame is often just as important as what you include. Ugly
background elements like partially out-offocus highlights and distracting
bits of vegetation draw the viewer's eye away from the subject. Peer through
the viewfinder and explore the subject's surroundings. Distracting elements
can often be excluded easily, either by altering viewpoint or using a larger
aperture to create a narrower depth-of-field. It is often possible to remove
distracting vegetation by gently flattening it by hand or using scissors -
nature photographers call this 'gardening'. Keep a pair of scissors in your
camera bag just for this purpose. Just be careful not to damage other flowers
in the process.
When a subject's background is
particularly messy, small tweaks are unlikely to suffice. An artificial
background may be best. To create your own backdrops, spray different
coloured paints onto card to simulate out-of-focus backgrounds, or simply
photograph foliage - with your lens defocused - before printing the results
at A3 or A4 size and attaching them to stiff card to create an
authentic-looking artificial background.
Water droplets
Tiny water droplets add scale, sparkle,
depth and interest to your flora shots, so one of the best times to
photograph nature is after rainfall or on dewy mornings. You can also create
your own droplets using a gardener's spray or atomiser. Spray your subject
from a short distance until droplets form.
They will glisten attractively in the
sunlight and also project a refracted image of the subject directly behind
them. In fact, why not use a macro lens or close-up attachment and make the
refracted image the focal point of your photo? Still conditions, a tripod and
pinpoint focusing are a must. Keep depth-of-field as shallow as possible to
ensure the background subject isn't too sharp. Best results come from careful
set up: spray a leaf or blade of grass so that droplets form, then align a
colourful flower behind it - in a pot or vase - to produce the refracted
image. Glycerine works better than water; its higher viscosity makes it more
stable and it is less affected by evaporation.
