Spring is officially upon us! It's time to get your cameras out and explore the beauty of the changing season.
Natural light is your friend— Time of day, camera direction and weather all influence how natural light renders a subject. Shadows from natural light alone can make a photo look stunning. Shadowing in natural light photography can often set the mood of your photo. Also consider the fact that cloud and tree cover acts as a diffuser and produces a consistent light source without direct sunlight.
Use backlight to illuminate petals and add dimension to your shot.
Flash, if used unfittingly, will create harsh shadows and an overexposed appearance.
After the rain— Find skies with interesting cloud detail rather than the traditional uninspired blue. If you’re in luck and the conditions are right, you also have a good chance of spotting rainbows. The reflections in puddles and raindrops make for a great addition to an already awe-inspiring Spring scene. Raindrops are also great subject matter for bokeh.
With the narrow depth-of-field used in macro shooting and working with raindrops, the slightest movement will be noticeable in your images. Take these shots with a tripod on a windless day.
Prepare a polarizing filter to help saturate colors.
A neutral density filter reduces glare.
Position your camera to shoot through drops with a wide aperture in order to keep the background out of focus.
Think fresh— Bring the natural beauty and color of buds, blossoms and landscape greenery to life in your photography. The best time to capture these shots is during the golden hour—about an hour after sunrise or before sunset— as the sun lingers low on the horizon. The light is soft and details will appear crisp. With the lengthening of daylight in Spring, magic hours are also extended in the morning and evening. Keep in mind that animals and insects, much like us, are also emerging at this time.
Get down on the same plane the flower is on.
Shoot subjects close-up and combine with a large aperture for a blurred background effect that leaves only your flowers in focus.
A polarizing filter helps to take reflections off any petals and also works to intensify the colors of spring.
Avoid areas of white light in landscape photography, as it can distract from the saturated colors you are attempting to capture.
