Thursday, April 28, 2016

Review of Nature Photo Tips

Indian Paintbrush photo by mbgphoto
Indian Paintbrush
On a beautiful April day, I visited Shaw Nature Reserve, which is located about an hour west of St. Louis, Missouri.  I took the trip with two of my photographer friends and we set out on the trails to try to capture the beauty that surrounded us.  The Indian Paintbrush were in full bloom so we had lots of opportunities for colorful photos. In this article, I will share some of my tips on photographing wildflowers and highlights from my day.

Capture the Overall Feel of the Area

Although I love to take close up photos of the flowers, I like to have some of my photos showing the overall feel of the area. This photo shows a field of the beautiful orange Indian Paintbrush.  There is also a touch of a purple wildflower in the photo.
field of Indian Paintbrush wildflowers photo by mbgphoto

Lines can Draw Interest to Your Photos

Lines in a photo can draw interest to the area.  In the first photo I used an old rail fence and in the second photo the branches of the tree on the right-hand side of the photo lead you into the wildflowers.
old rail fence and wildflowers photo by mbgphoto

wildflowers and trees photo by mbgphoto


Close Up Photos are a Great Way to Hone in on a Specific Flower

wildflowers photo by mbgphoto

wildflowers photo by mbgphoto

Wide Angle Lenses can Give a Different Perspective

I had read a tip recently to use a wide angle lens when taking flower photos and get in very close to the flower (just a few inches away).  This will make the flower look much bigger in relation to the background.  I tried this and here is the result. A tip for you who only have a camera phone with you.  This shot can work great with most camera phones that have good wide angle lenses.
wildflowers in the woods photo by mbgphoto

There is More than Wildflowers

When I photograph a place that has beautiful flowers, I also try to take a few photographs to give a feel for the rest of the area and my day.  The photos below show a fallen tree, my photographer buddies, and the path to the trail house.
woods photo by mbgphoto

photo by mbgphoto

path through the woods photo by mbgphoto

Zazzle Note Cards

I enjoy making notecards from my photos.  Here are a few I made from my trip to Shaw Nature Reserve.

Indian Paintbrush Card
Indian Paintbrush Card by mbgphoto
Find more Wildflowers Cards at Zazzle



Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”


6 comments:

  1. I always learn something from you about taking pictures, Mary Beth, while enjoying your beautiful photography. These shots are gorgeous and tips are excellent. Thanks for sharing!

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  2. I always enjoy reading your photography tips Mary Beth because you either teach me something new or remind me of something I should not have forgotten. Today, you taught me something new! I had never even considered using a wide angle lens up close. I can hardly wait to get out and try that! So cool!!! Your photos are always lovely and I certainly enjoyed them today. It was fun seeing your photography friends too. It is always nice to have friends to share adventures with.

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  3. As always, your photographs are gorgeous, Mary Beth. And I really liked the tip about including 'lines' in a photo to draw attention to the main object. Loved that photo with the old rail fence.

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  4. Very Nice Mary Beth, I am starting to take more pictures of my garden in all stages. Sometimes the flowers are just showing tips of color, that will eventually become a full flower. Your tips are helpful to me, thanks.

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  5. Gorgeous and so peaceful - my fave colors too are featured here in flowers, yellow, orange and purple. Pretty pretty pretty! nothing like being outdoors, relaxing and calming :)

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  6. I have definitely been thinking I need a wide angle lens. This just solidifies that thought. Love your photos and tutorials.

    ReplyDelete

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