This is a thorough covering of flower photography, with an emphasis on composition and aesthetics. Many examples show what to do and what not to do. There is a lot of visual humor used, to make the presentation entertaining as well as informative.

1. Flower Photography By Dave Shafer

3. Here’s to self-expression!

4. Flower Photography is not that difficult Basic principles can be taught

6. My 105 mm macro lens for my Pentax K-10 camera Fully extended, 1.0X magnification

8. Now some thoughts, to break the ice

9. I try to keep up with the latest technology

10. Times have changed

11. You don’t want to feel out of it

12. Don’t wait for the perfect camera

13. Your eye is more important than your camera

14. Taking good photos can be a piece of cake

15. It is really relatively simple

16. You can get good advice from books

17. There are lots of “how-to” books

18. But you can’t believe everything you read

20. There are clubs where you can learn

21. It is probably best to just dive in and start taking photos

22. Give it your best shot

23. There will be a few salacious images shown this evening

24. I apologize to any prudes, like those who want to cover up tree crotches

25. Nude or semi-nude photography is exciting

26. But flower photography can also expose you to new experiences

27. I’m going to squeeze in a lot of images so let me know if I am packing in too much

28. Groups of flowers tend to be static Hard to be interesting with groups of flowers – very pretty, but static

29. Closeup is more interesting

30. Closeup is more intimate

31. Distance makes us voyeurs, not participants

32. Closeup draws you right into the picture

33. You get pulled right in by the close foreground

34. Use macro lens to show detail

35. Simplify No single focus of interest Single point of interest

36. OK to break rules if image is striking enough

37. Or if you really like the composition

38. Or if there is a dynamic composition

39. Simple compositions are best

40. But too much symmetry is static

41. Balance simplicity versus interest

42. Optimize background Pretty , but distracting background Much better

43. Try different colors for background

44. Black is more dramatic but also is cold

45. Choice can be tough to make

46. Like this Scottish dilemma

47. Background should add but not dominate

48. Remove clutter from background

49. Clutter is distracting

50. Even the foreground can be distracted by the background

51. But background can provide context

52. Experiment with composition A shadow can add interest

53. Try reversing the image

54. “ Read” pictures from left to right

55. Often choice is pretty arbitrary

56. Diagonal lines are good

57. Look for tension in your composition

58. Opposing shapes right and left

59. Better – not quite as symmetrical

60. Consider dramatic lighting

61. Or atmospheric lighting

62. Too much symmetry

63. You don’t have to show the whole blossom

64. Less is more, in an arresting photo

65. Part of a dogwood is just as good

66. Isolate most interesting part

67. Focus can be used to isolate

68. White details are hard to bring out

69. Lighting direction for white is important

70. Oblique lighting is best

71. Mistakes are common

72. Mistakes – too much photoshop Looks a little like a plastic plant Too much color saturation

73. Photoshop is a powerful tool that can turn on you

74. Colors and contrast are too strong

75. Too garish a color combination

76. Looks unreal – too dramatic

77. Maybe too simple

78. Two centers of interest are not good

79. Eye keeps going back and forth

80. Unless one is out of focus

81. Or if the two centers of interest are related to each other

82. And have some obvious connection

83. Three are better than two

84. Not just with flowers

85. Two usually makes a static composition

86. Sometimes you want the eye to go back and forth

87. Within Reason

88. Vase can also add interest

89. And add color contrast

90. Cheating is allowed

91. You can crimp, bend, cut, twist, etc.

93. I hope I still have your attention

94. Extreme closeup African violet center

95. Surprising details emerge

96. Pollen can be interesting

97. Pollen closeups can be bizarre

98. A poppy center has lots of detail

99. Unopened buds can be interesting

100. There is tension in an unopened bud

101. A little suspense is good

102. Buds can have interesting detail

103. Closeup flower texture

104. Surface texture depends on lighting

105. Unusual Perspective

106. Unusual perspectives are interesting

107. Different taking point can transform picture

108. Unusual perspective can add humor

109. Drama can be added to the familiar

110. Unusual perspective can be puzzling

111. Your imagination is engaged

112. Back of flower + cropped and flipped

113. Back of flower, flowers through glass

114. Light can be from back or front

115. Back of daffodil is less familiar

116. Back of leaf can be interesting

117. As well as front of leaf

118. This needs work on background

119. Improved image

120. Unusual colors on some leaves

121. Decay can add interest (except in people)

122. Try other orientations and settings

123. Top of orchid, back of calla lily Calla Cobra

124. Base of carnation

125. Cropped, simplified, improved

126. Try to surprise with an image

127. To make a splash

128. And turn heads

129. You want photos with impact

130. Images that surprise

131. Challenge expectations

132. Give the familiar a new twist

133. Imagine interesting combinations - Goldilocks and papa bear

134. Unusual perspective and unusual combination

135. Don’t get stuck in a conventional rut

136. Bugs can add interest

137. But bugs usually detract from the beauty of the flower

138. Unless it is a butterfly

139. Bugs can add life to a static picture

140. Iris and fly

141. Flowers as higher life forms

142. There are “faces” everywhere

143. Look everywhere for the human element

144. Tree Lady

145. It takes very little to suggest a face

146. Just peeling a potato might turn one up

147. Look for suggestive patterns

148. Even abstract emotion can be expressed

149. Anthropomorphic photos Elephant head violet Orchid man

150. Books are best for telling a story

151. Photos can also tell a story: in a crisis it’s time to send in the clowns

152. A photo story goes beyond what is shown

153. Even shadows can be part of the story

154. “ Let me help” and “The Gossips” Found arrangement Set up arrangement

155. “ Dancing Orchid Ladies” and “Diamond Lily”

156. Orchid Lady has amazing human detail

157. As does randy orchid boy

158. Sealife-like center, sinuous curves

159. Daffodil Marriage Spat

160. Crocodile Leaf

161. Backyard Giraffe

162. Flower Candy

163. Pond reflections of fall leaves

164. Foggy morning with super saturated colors

165. “ Art” – flowers as shapes and colors

166. African violet center, Hosta leaves

167. You can “paint” with colors, shapes and composition

168. Flower shapes as semi- abstract forms

169. Shapes and colors

170. Simple “art” compositions

171. Simplicity is key

172. “ Art” requires simple background

173. Color can carry the day with very simple compositions

174. Less is more, in art

175. Unless you’re into tatoos

176. Stereo images

177. This is a lot of material to remember

178. But don’t worry, there’s no quiz

179. Had enough?

181. The End