In this tutorial, we’ll share with you simple and inexpensive ways to create beautiful flower photographs. You’ll learn how to add light using a flashlight and reflector. If you have a touch of patience and imagination, you can create stunning Flower Photographs in no time.
You’ll need to place your camera on a tripod and find a good surface, preferably near a window light, to photograph your flower. Set the camera to take photos to less than 1/15 seconds?This will be much easier if you use a remote shutter or your camera timer. Take test photos to determine the exposure to be used with ambient light. Increase or decrease the shutter speed and see the different results until you find what you want.
- Even if you find the ideal exposure.
- The shadows can still be strong.
- To soften the light.
- You can place a projector next to the flower to be photographed.
- Can this reflector be any piece of white paper? Almost anything that is white can be used as a reflector.
- It is clear that a professional reflector generates better results.
- But for you to dare.
- Improvisation is free.
The use of this material to take pictures of flowers serves to fill the shadows and soften the light that affects the main subject of the image.
The exposure used in the above was done with one of these reflectors, compare this image with the first two and notice that the lighting is similar to that performed with prolonged exposure, the amount of light that can be added using only reflectors is impressive. Above all, consider the quality of the light. Notice how shadows are always present to the right of the flower, but they are not as visible.
The flowers are delicate. They’re feminine. When we want to tell stories with what we choose to photograph, we have to convey a feeling, one of the ways to achieve it in flower photographs is the way we use light, see how the feeling changes in the photos where the reflector was used and where it was not used. Is this the second softest and most feminine exhibition?that best suits the subject.
You can now place a flashlight behind your main object. Make sure you have placed your light source so that it does not generate reflections (when the light directly affects the lens). To do this, make sure that the light is directed directly to the flower and not to the lens.
After a little practice you will already be able to exercise your creativity and play with the light taking pictures of flowers, as far as composition is concerned, you will have to decide what your interest in photography is and where you want to direct the viewer’s gaze. How dark is the center of the flower in the image above?add a clear filler and it will be clearer:
In the following case, the stamen of the flower is very dark and the details can hardly be seen:
However, when we add the flashlight, the situation changes
Here are just a few creative examples you can try at home with light sources, such as a flashlight and reflectors. Photography demands it: new ideas and creativity. Never settle for ambient light if you want to leave a common subject in a photo stands out differently!