Hello, this is Minew.
Even when the leaves on roadside trees have fallen and it looks cold outside, having flowers inside makes you feel bright and warm.
When I visited my parents' house, the flowers my parents had skillfully grown were displayed, and I tried and errored shooting while wondering how this beauty could be made into a photograph.
Because flowers are attractive subjects themselves, one key is to eliminate unnecessary things in the frame, just like taking portraits, placing them against a plain wall, for example.
GR III, P mode, ISO400, 1/15sec, F2.8, -0.3EV, WB: Auto, Crop 35mm, Level correction
This wall is a little dark, but if you place the same flowers by the window, their expression will change. The light from behind makes the petals transparent, giving a gorgeous impression.
GR III, P mode, ISO400, 1 / 30sec, F2.8, + 0.7EV, WB: Auto
I wondered whether I should shoot with or without a vase. I chose to include it and changed the aspect ratio so that the margins were even (for GR III you can select from 3:2 and 1:1, for GR and GR II, you can also select 4:3). Hmmm, I like both.
The simplest background is "black", but it was quite difficult. I tried to use a spotlight on flowers in a dark room, or put a black T-shirt behind. At one point, something black, flat, and wide came to my mind- TV screen!
GR II, P mode, ISO250, 1 / 30sec, F2.8, + 0.3EV, WB: Auto, Crop 35mm
A flat panel, non-glare type TV screen is just right for the background because the screen is dark and there is little reflection when the power is turned off. It looks especially good with white flowers. That’s why I use it a lot.
How you should take pictures depends on the color, shape, type and decoration of the flower. One way is not always correct. Try some variations and find something that suits you, and that process is also fun.
Below are some examples with gerberas as the subjects.
GR II, P mode, ISO200, 1/30sec, F2.8, +1.0EV, WB: Auto, Crop 47mm
GR II, P mode, ISO400, 1/20sec, F2.8, -1.0EV, WB: Manual, Crop 47mm, Level correction
GR III, P mode, ISO200, 1/800sec, F3.5, + 0.3EV, WB: Auto, Crop 35mm
The first image was taken against a bright floor, and the second was against a black background on the TV screen. I composed the last one considering the contrast with the shadows cast on the wall in the sunlight.
Once you have a favorite picture of a flower, try decorating it on the wall or in the background of your desktop screen. Please post your pictures on Instagram with “#grsnaps" too!
See you again!
(Minew)
