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Photographing Macro [repost]

As many of my friends know, I have an addiction to photographing flowers, so when this email came into my inbox last week, I couldn't help but repost it!! It's got some great tips and it reminded me of what to think of when I'm shooting those small beauties.

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Photo Tip #137: Photographing Spring Flowers
Spring Flowers


Greetings Fellow Photographers!

The seasons are changing again! Springtime in North America presents some incredible opportunities for taking photos as the snow melts, flowers bloom, and the weather warms up. Whether you step into your backyard for a little fresh air, or arrange a hike with your friends and family, try to spend some time outside in the coming weeks, and don't forget your camera!
Close Ups
You've probably seen some gorgeous close up photos of flowers and plants. A lot of these photos are taken when the flowers are in full bloom, but you can still capture some amazing close up shots of flowers as they are beginning to sprout and bloom. Consider investing in a macro photography lens for your DSLR camera, or set your camera to Close Up mode. If you want to try something a little more advanced, set your camera to Aperture Priority mode, and play around with different aperture settings. The aperture affects how deep or shallow your depth of field is in the photo. The higher the f-stop number, the deeper your depth of field will be. Experiment and have fun looking at the different results. Close Ups
Angles
A close up shot of a gorgeous Spring flower as the primary subject is a lovely shot, but try spicing things up a bit with your angles and perspective. For example, move the flower from the center to the corner of the frame, or shoot only part of the flower rather than the whole thing. Try shooting up or down at the flower, rather than straight on. Changing your angle and perspective can lead to a much more unique and interesting image. Consider using a tripod if you have one, especially for high aperture settings, which result in longer shutter speeds and are more susceptible to blur. Angles
Background

Backgrounds
In many cases, your background will be blurry or out of focus in a flower shot, especially in a close up. However, you still need to be mindful of what's behind (and in some cases, in front of) your subject. A blue flower close up will stand out much better against a red or white background, as opposed to a background of similarly-colored blue flowers. Or, and early yellow rose might be more vibrant with a blue sky in the background than the side of your house.
Weather Tips
Even though you've waited all winter for a sunny, warm day, your best shooting times are morning or evening, when the sun is low on the horizon. Overcast days are great for spring photography as well. Also, a windy day may cause blur in your flower photos. It is not necessarily a bad thing; blurred flowers can make stunning photos, but it's something to keep in mind. Bring something to block the wind, if possible. Pack for weather changes as well. Winter may be over, but rain or even snow storms can still creep up quickly this time of year. Make sure you have the proper clothing and protective gear for your equipment. Lighting
Digi's Inspiring Photos!
Throughout this year, I will share some of my favorite photos with you to give you a bit of inspiration and background information on how a photo was captured and created. Some may be photos I shot, while others might be from other pro photographers.




Inspire


This marco, or close up shot, was taken in some nice forest shade with just enough light coming into the scene to give it depth. The background, as in most close up work, is blurred out, but is a colorful counter to the subject, and shot at a very low angle, making the subject seem larger in the frame. This was shot with a DSLR and 60mm macro lens using all natural light.
–Digi
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