Comments on: The secret to getting perfect light for your wildflower photographs http://photonaturalist.net/the-secret-to-getting-perfect-light-for-your-wildflower-photographs/ tips and tutorials for digital nature photography Thu, 29 Jul 2010 18:36:36 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: juan http://photonaturalist.net/the-secret-to-getting-perfect-light-for-your-wildflower-photographs/comment-page-1/#comment-7170 juan Thu, 28 Jan 2010 21:35:56 +0000 http://photonaturalist.net/?p=359#comment-7170 Hi. I once projected shade on a flower and the result was acceptable, not as an overcast day but acceptable. Hi. I once projected shade on a flower and the result was acceptable, not as an overcast day but acceptable.

]]> By: Steve Berardi http://photonaturalist.net/the-secret-to-getting-perfect-light-for-your-wildflower-photographs/comment-page-1/#comment-121 Steve Berardi Wed, 18 Mar 2009 05:55:19 +0000 http://photonaturalist.net/?p=359#comment-121 Judy, no reason to apologize for any kind of question! Thanks for asking! the f-stop (or f-number) basically just tells you how wide your lens is opened up, and determines the photo's depth of field. Smaller f-stops (like f/4) will have a VERY shallow depth of field, so much of the photo will be blurred out of focus. They're good for shooting the flat parts of flowers, or if you just want the tip of a petal in focus. Larger f-stops (like f/11 or f/22) will have a very deep depth of field, so more of the image will be in sharp focus. When trying to isolate a wildflower in a photo, I've never shot above f/8.. I usually use f/6.3 or f/8. Another key to understanding depth of field though, is focal length and distance between the subject and background. When your lens has a larger focal length (i.e. more than 100mm), you'll get a more blurred background. Also, the greater the distance between the subject and the background, the blurrier or more out of focus the background will be. That's why my favorite lens to shoot wildflowers with is the 70-200mm Canon f/4L Let me know if any of this is unclear! Steve Judy, no reason to apologize for any kind of question! Thanks for asking! the f-stop (or f-number) basically just tells you how wide your lens is opened up, and determines the photo’s depth of field.

Smaller f-stops (like f/4) will have a VERY shallow depth of field, so much of the photo will be blurred out of focus. They’re good for shooting the flat parts of flowers, or if you just want the tip of a petal in focus.

Larger f-stops (like f/11 or f/22) will have a very deep depth of field, so more of the image will be in sharp focus.

When trying to isolate a wildflower in a photo, I’ve never shot above f/8.. I usually use f/6.3 or f/8.

Another key to understanding depth of field though, is focal length and distance between the subject and background. When your lens has a larger focal length (i.e. more than 100mm), you’ll get a more blurred background. Also, the greater the distance between the subject and the background, the blurrier or more out of focus the background will be. That’s why my favorite lens to shoot wildflowers with is the 70-200mm Canon f/4L

Let me know if any of this is unclear!

Steve

]]> By: Judy Lim http://photonaturalist.net/the-secret-to-getting-perfect-light-for-your-wildflower-photographs/comment-page-1/#comment-120 Judy Lim Wed, 18 Mar 2009 05:13:41 +0000 http://photonaturalist.net/?p=359#comment-120 Steve, please forgive my basic question, but i am a complete beginner. i love flowers, and like to take photos of them; i get the point you made about getting into a plane parallel with the flower's, but don't quite understand the meaning of F-stops and the use of aperture variation. my aim is to get the flower in focus (not easy when it is not a flat flower) but rendering the background blur so that it does not distract. thanks for taking the time and trouble to explain to this beginner, cheers, Judy. Steve,
please forgive my basic question, but i am a complete beginner. i love flowers, and like to take photos of them; i get the point you made about getting into a plane parallel with the flower’s, but don’t quite understand the meaning of F-stops and the use of aperture variation. my aim is to get the flower in focus (not easy when it is not a flat flower) but rendering the background blur so that it does not distract.
thanks for taking the time and trouble to explain to this beginner,
cheers, Judy.

]]> By: Mikes http://photonaturalist.net/the-secret-to-getting-perfect-light-for-your-wildflower-photographs/comment-page-1/#comment-82 Mikes Sat, 07 Mar 2009 08:44:15 +0000 http://photonaturalist.net/?p=359#comment-82 as i read your posts, i can only say you're the best in what you do and that builds up your credibiliy. keep it up! Th suggestion about sunlight, like with a shower curatin an waiting for a cloudy day is a good one. i haven't thought about that befor. is this also true i i take pictures of peopl? as i read your posts, i can only say you’re the best in what you do and that builds up your credibiliy. keep it up! Th suggestion about sunlight, like with a shower curatin an waiting for a cloudy day is a good one. i haven’t thought about that befor. is this also true i i take pictures of peopl?

]]> By: Steve Berardi http://photonaturalist.net/the-secret-to-getting-perfect-light-for-your-wildflower-photographs/comment-page-1/#comment-14 Steve Berardi Sat, 21 Feb 2009 05:37:16 +0000 http://photonaturalist.net/?p=359#comment-14 Ching, just remember "quality not quantity" when it comes to natural light :) Ching, just remember “quality not quantity” when it comes to natural light :)

]]> By: Ching Ya http://photonaturalist.net/the-secret-to-getting-perfect-light-for-your-wildflower-photographs/comment-page-1/#comment-10 Ching Ya Fri, 20 Feb 2009 06:52:45 +0000 http://photonaturalist.net/?p=359#comment-10 This is a new trick for me. Lighting plays a huge part in photography, I've always assume the more light the better; to prevent blurring and enhance contrast. Great to know at times a little less sun light could bring pleasant effects too. Thanks for the sharing. This is a new trick for me. Lighting plays a huge part in photography, I’ve always assume the more light the better; to prevent blurring and enhance contrast. Great to know at times a little less sun light could bring pleasant effects too. Thanks for the sharing.

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