A tip I read often from flower-shooters is underexpose for deeper colours. The other thing I can say is that I always treat my flower shootings as portrait sessions. I use reflectors, inserted backdrops and up to three strobes (including in softboxes) to get great light for them.
The downside is all this is so much trouble I often just give it a miss unless it's a particularly great new flower. On Thu, Aug 30, 2012 at 11:54 AM, Daniel J. Matyola <[email protected]> wrote: > Thanks for the helpful tips, Joe. > > For most flowers, I try several modes. In this case, IIRC, I tried > auto, program, macro, Flash Off, Shutter-Priority and > Aperture-Priority. Those taken in the last two modes just looked > washed out. Admittedly, that was probably due to my ineptitude. For > this particular flower, the deep and vibrant color is its only real > virtue, and that is what I was trying to capture here. > > I have a Softbox for each of the two flashes I still use, but I > generally think of using them only indoors, or taking portraits > outdoors. I shall try to remember to give them a try in more outdoor > situations. > > Dan Matyola > http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/danieljmatyola > > > On Thu, Aug 30, 2012 at 11:03 AM, jn289 <[email protected]> wrote: >> Dan, I do not know if you ever use your camera on manual, Try to learn how >> to do this (if you do not at all this time) and also use your flash on >> manual. Most all of my flower photos are shot on manual as is the flash. >> Also most of my sports photos are shot on manual camera and manual flash. >> Some more Morning Glory's came to life outside of our house, so early this >> morning I was out there shooting them around 6:30 A.M. as I was sick during >> the night and could not sleep. I used the flash and the camera again on >> manual..Will post them up soon. >> >> Go to Home Depot or even a dollar store an look for milky plexi-glass or >> fabric material to soften the harsh light. You could also soften the flash >> with the same material. You could also white sheet material and learn out to >> make your own modifiers for the flash. >> >> In this photo I used a hair dryer attachment to soften the flash. The flash >> was on a remote as you can see the trigger on the K20D body as taken with a >> K10 Body to show how it was done. >> >> http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=16219655 >> >> Also one of my best flash units is a Sunpak 120J which can be used as a bare >> bulb or with reflectors. This photo was shot with the Norman Tele reflector >> on the 120J from one end of the court to the other as I wanted add a little >> something extra to the photo and yes both camera and flash shot on manual. >> >> http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=6406395 >> >> Hope this might help, also you might not like anything I have just said. >> Lighting is always learning..Joe >> >> >> >> >>> For some reason, this flower and the orange hibiscus are very >>> difficult for me to capture. In bright light they come out a bit >>> blown out. In early morning light or open shade, the colors come out >>> much different than what my eye sees; they lack the fullness of the >>> real flower. >>> >>> The other problem is that the hibiscus blooms do not last very long at >>> their peak. They also get attacked by Japanese beetles and other >>> pests. So, when the blossom is full and open, I have to capture it >>> then, rather than waiting for better light. The pink, yellow and >>> lighter red flowers look good under a much broader spectrum of light >>> conditions. >>> >>> I will have to try to use reflectors, fill in flash and other >>> techniques to modify the natural light. >>> >>> Dan Matyola >>> http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/danieljmatyola >>> >>> >>> On Tue, Aug 28, 2012 at 7:20 PM, Bruce Walker <[email protected]> >>> wrote: >>>> >>>> That's a really gorgeous flower, Dan. >>>> >>>> I think it'd look considerably nicer if it wasn't in full glare sun >>>> though. Have you tried using the bare scrim of a 5-in-1 reflector to >>>> shade and soften the light? >>>> >>>> >>>> On Tue, Aug 28, 2012 at 5:35 PM, Daniel J. Matyola >>>> <[email protected]> wrote: >>>>> >>>>> My most unusual hibiscus. >>>>> >>>>> http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=16333212 >>>>> >>>>> Dan Matyola >>>>> http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/danieljmatyola >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List >>>>> [email protected] >>>>> http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net >>>>> to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and >>>>> follow the directions. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> -- >>>> -bmw >>>> >>>> -- >>>> PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List >>>> [email protected] >>>> http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net >>>> to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and >>>> follow the directions. >>> >>> >>> -- >>> PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List >>> [email protected] >>> http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net >>> to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and >>> follow the directions. >> >> >> >> -- >> PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List >> [email protected] >> http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net >> to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and >> follow the directions. > > -- > PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List > [email protected] > http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net > to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow > the directions. -- -bmw -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List [email protected] http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
