Quote of the day: “But this rose is an extra. Its smell and its color are an embellishment of life, not a condition of it. It is only goodness which gives extras, and so I say again that we have much to hope from the flowers.” ― Arthur Conan Doyle, The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes
I love photographing flowers and plants when I don’t have time to go out somewhere for a photo shoot. Over time I’ve learned that a simple flower or bunch of flowers can keep me working and intrigued for days.
It’s not uncommon for me to make 300 or more photos of a single bunch of flowers.
Thursday, I picked up a $4.99 bouquet of roses at Trader Joe’s. Their color was unusual and I couldn’t wait to start playing. I’m still not done making photos of them, but the montage of photos above shows you just a few of the different photos I’ve made of these roses.
Photo Assignment
Your photo assignment today is to find a single flower (or a small bunch of flowers). Make at least 50 photos of the flower(s) varying angle, lens used, zoom, distance, and depth of field.
How many ways can you see a rose?
Look for new ways to see. When you feel like you’re out of ideas for new ways to see your flower, walk away for awhile. When you return, see if you can see in a new way. Try zooming in on a single feature that intrigues you. Simplify and then simplify some more.
This the way to train your eye to see in new ways and to build your skills at the same time.
Study the photos you made. Which ones do you like the best? What is it that you like about them? What does this teach you about composition, light, depth of field?
I have learned so much from this practice. One of the key things I’ve learned from photographing flowers and plants is to
Simplify
Don’t try to show the viewer everything you see. Pick the an important detail and show that. Eliminate everything extra.
There were two magnificent large leaves included in my rose bouquet from Trader Joe’s. Here’s a sample of photos I made from studying a single leaf.
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