Beautiful Flower Photography

Anyone with a basic knowledge of photography can make beautiful flower photographs. While you don't need any special equipment or knowledge, there are a few things that will improve your results.

1) Use the macro setting on your digital camera, or
use a macro lens on your film camera. On my Fuji digital the macro button has a picture of a flower on it so it's easy to find. Using the macro setting allows you to get clear focus from a much closer distance.

2) Shoot flowers in open shade, not bright sunlight. Shooting in bright sunlight usually results in a lot of unwanted shadows in your pictures. Shooting in early morning, late evening or on an overcast day will result in better light balance and brighter colors.

3) Use a tripod to minimize camera movement. You can take your time in setting up the shot you want and get good results, even with slower shutter speeds. You may even want to invest in a tabletop tripod or a gorilla pod to give you the ability to get right down to the flower's level.

4) Get close to your subject. Filling the frame is a great way to get a great shot.

5) Avoid the wind. Even a slight breeze can get flowers blowing back and forth. It doesn't take much movement to make a blurry photograph. Using a faster shutter speed (1/60th of a second or faster) will help if you can't get totally out of the wind.

6) Play with special effects. Try back lighting your flowers, using a diffuser or a star filter to add interest and creativity to your flower photography.

7) Have fun. Flower photography can be serious business but it's also a lot of fun.