[...] one for our new contest focusing on close up shots of nature. I used my 50mm lens again for this shot because, let’s face it, I really, really heart that [...]

I love the perspective on that dandelion. Mind sharing how you got underneath it to shoot it?

Thanks, John! If you can believe it, I actually took that picture while I was on my way out of the pharmacy picking up a really strong prescription for allergies! I thought I might as well photograph my nemesis. I had my camera set to autofocus. Then I actually picked the flower, held it low to the ground and then got down as low as I could (without drawing too much attention to myself) and shot upwards. I took a bunch of shots and ended up with one that was crisp enough with just a little bit of trees in the corner that had to be cloned out. More explanation here!

Thanks for sharing. I kind of suspected you had to pick it to shoot it…. I read a tip somewhere… I wish I could remember the source. The person suggested taking a piece of copper pipe or metal conduit (my dad’s an electrician… I’ll be commissioning a piece from his scrap for this) and sticking it in the ground…. Pick the flower and put it in the end of the conduit. It gives you more room to shoot from different angles and it lets you isolate the flower from its environment. I haven’t tried it yet, but I think I’ll get on it soon.

Oh, good idea about the copper pipe! Great hack! I was actually surprised that some of the shots I took of this flower came out OK when I hadn’t picked it yet. But I needed just a little more room, so I figured since it really is a weed, I didn’t have to feel bad picking it. Normally though for flower shots, I like to leave the plant as undisturbed as possible!

There’s always the opportunity to pick flowers out of your garden or wildflowers at the edge of the road. I’ve given myself a mission to photograph purple and lavender flowers for my parents bathroom. They just remodeled it and they have purple accents in there. I think a nice 16×20 print would fill in the extra space they have on the one wall. The copper pipe trick will definitely come in handy in completing this mission.

True about picking the wildflowers or garden flowers. I think I only feel like I shouldn’t pick flowers to balance out the amount of flowers plucked from the earth by my dear and curious toddler!

Great thing to have a goal in mind for the color (and maybe type) of flower you want to shoot. Scales down the enormity of a project like that. And it will be so cool to see your art hanging on the wall at your parents’ house!

[...] More up close with nature. [...]

God loves us enough to keep planting more flowers! My daughter loves to pick flowers when we’re out for a walk by the pond or just playing in the backyard. She picks them little yellow ones most. She hasn’t quite learned that they’re weeds yet. She loves to give them to mommy!

[...] another flower for our August photography contest, close ups of nature-y stuff. Because who doesn’t love a good, close look at a flower? I think I need to venture outside [...]