Wild Flowers (C&C)

[J_T]

Today I went out and photographed some of the flowers I found around my house.
This is my first time trying some flower photography so some C&C will be greatly appriciated.

1

2

3

4

5

 

[photo_maniac12]

Nice pictures

 

[J_T]

Thanks.looking for some more CC please

 

[lorenzostpierre]

Lovely pics of flowers.And as this is your first try of flower photography i must say that you have done a nice job!
Photographing flowers can be one of the hardest things to do. I have deep respect for any photographer who manages to do it well.

​

 

[greybeard68 40]

I'm into flowers these days too. I like #1 the best, I think it would work better if cropped vertically so as to isolate the main blossom. #2 and #3 need to be shot from a different angle so the blossoms are facing the camera more. I find the back ground in #4 and #5 distracting. (jmho)

 

[Audible_Chocolate]

My favorite is by far number one. Just a really nice picture all around.

 

[Scuba]

Not bad. My suggestion would be a reflector to help with the lighting. Also, while I don't shoot flowers, you should be careful on that you call a wildflower. Someone may freak out about a daffodil being called a wildflower. If you really enjoy flowers I would suggest getting a macro lens so you can use the magnification to fill the frame.

These are a good start though.

 

[PixelRabbit]

I'm into flowers these days too. I like #1 the best, I think it would work better if cropped vertically so as to isolate the main blossom. #2 and #3 need to be shot from a different angle so the blossoms are facing the camera more. I find the back ground in #4 and #5 distracting. (jmho)

Funny thing, I shot the same flowers as 1-3 the other day too and was about to post a thread of them lol They are Scilla Siberica if anyone is interested.

I agree about #1, def a vertical crop. Your suggestion on 2&3 would be tuff unless you found some on a slope and could shoot up at them , these things are 6ish inches high, the flower is maybe an inch across and often faces down as you can see . I had my camera just about on the ground to get eye level with them.

I like 2 but the focus seems to have maybe hit the leading edge of the bottom flower, if you hit the focus on the stamen and inside of the petals on the top flower it would have really popped.

I agree again with Greybeard on the last two, pay attention to backgrounds. In the first 3 you have a blue flower against a blue sky which takes away from the flower. I think it should be the only blue thing in the frame
Hope this helps!

 

[J_T]

Lovely pics of flowers.And as this is your first try of flower photography i must say that you have done a nice job!
Photographing flowers can be one of the hardest things to do. I have deep respect for any photographer who manages to do it well.

​

Thanks lorenzostpierre. Yeah it is hard photographing flowers. It's hard to find an angle that isn't boring... I tried to make it level/ looking up to the flower, although not sure if I did it successfully haha.

I'm into flowers these days too. I like #1 the best, I think it would work better if cropped vertically so as to isolate the main blossom. #2 and #3 need to be shot from a different angle so the blossoms are facing the camera more. I find the back ground in #4 and #5 distracting. (jmho)

Okay thanks for the critique greybeard
I'll be looking for your flower pictures in the future...lol

My favorite is by far number one. Just a really nice picture all around.

Thank you AC
It's my fav. too (that's why I put it first ;D).

Not bad. My suggestion would be a reflector to help with the lighting. Also, while I don't shoot flowers, you should be careful on that you call a wildflower. Someone may freak out about a daffodil being called a wildflower. If you really enjoy flowers I would suggest getting a macro lens so you can use the magnification to fill the frame.

These are a good start though.

Thanks for the CC Scuba!
What type of reflector are we talking about here? Just like a white sheet of Bristol board or something?
Well, the first two are wild flowers (I think...) at least lol.
Technically ALL flowers are wild... hehe

And what macro lens would you suggest? Keep in mind cost is the deciding factor lol.

 

[J_T]

I'm into flowers these days too. I like #1 the best, I think it would work better if cropped vertically so as to isolate the main blossom. #2 and #3 need to be shot from a different angle so the blossoms are facing the camera more. I find the back ground in #4 and #5 distracting. (jmho)

Funny thing, I shot the same flowers as 1-3 the other day too and was about to post a thread of them lol They are Scilla Siberica if anyone is interested.

I agree about #1, def a vertical crop. Your suggestion on 2&3 would be tuff unless you found some on a slope and could shoot up at them , these things are 6ish inches high, the flower is maybe an inch across and often faces down as you can see . I had my camera just about on the ground to get eye level with them.

I like 2 but the focus seems to have maybe hit the leading edge of the bottom flower, if you hit the focus on the stamen and inside of the petals on the top flower it would have really popped.

I agree again with Greybeard on the last two, pay attention to backgrounds. In the first 3 you have a blue flower against a blue sky which takes away from the flower. I think it should be the only blue thing in the frame
Hope this helps!

Thanks for the CC PixelRabbit.
I definitely agree, now that I look at it, that the background detracts from the picture in the last two, but I still think the blue compliments the blue flower in the first 3. That's why I shot toward the sky haha.
I think I should start manual focusing my camera... I've had issues with focus in the wrong spots before
Thanks for pointing that out. What macro lens would you suggest getting (on a tight budget)?

 

[Scuba]

Thanks for the CC Scuba!
What type of reflector are we talking about here? Just like a white sheet of Bristol board or something?
Well, the first two are wild flowers (I think...) at least lol.
Technically ALL flowers are wild... hehe

And what macro lens would you suggest? Keep in mind cost is the deciding factor lol.

The reflector thing is a loaded question. Some people will say you have to buy specific reflectors and other will say anything that doesn't cast a color will work. I think you could use some white poster-board or some foil. Or you could buy a reflector set which generally comes with several different things. The idea is just to get some light from another direction to help illuminate areas in shadow and to reduce harsh shadows. A set would include a gold and silver reflector which allows you to add warmer light or cooler light.
As for the macro lens, I will have to defer as I don't really know a whole lot about them. I would say something in the 100mm range or so but like I said I don't know much so hopefully someone else can chime in.

 

[PixelRabbit]

You are quite welcome, I'd love to help by suggesting a lens but I don't know enough about them to give you the best info. I'll leave that to someone who is more savvy

 

[greybeard68 40]

I'm into flowers these days too. I like #1 the best, I think it would work better if cropped vertically so as to isolate the main blossom. #2 and #3 need to be shot from a different angle so the blossoms are facing the camera more. I find the back ground in #4 and #5 distracting. (jmho)

Your suggestion on 2&3 would be tuff unless you found some on a slope and could shoot up at them , these things are 6ish inches high, the flower is maybe an inch across and often faces down as you can see . I had my camera just about on the ground to get eye level with them.

Articulated screen++++++

 

[PixelRabbit]

Oh and the blue against blue thing may come down to personal preference. You took a more subtle approach to them than I did, not wrong, just different

 

[PixelRabbit]

Articulated screen++++++

Ok I think we are thinking two different angles and I am misunderstanding I read it as get lower and shoot more face on to the flower so it is more like #1 .