Project 2 Capture a backlit bluebell carpet
Towards the end of spring season, a remarkable but short-lived sight appears in woodland – a glorious carpet of bluebells. If you don’t already know where a good crop of bluebells lies waiting in the soil for you, a quick bit of research on the web should reveal the best spots in your local area.
But although a bluebell carpet looks great in any light, you’re missing out on a treat if you head to the woods at a sociable hour in the middle of the day. The most striking wide-angle shots can be had by shooting contre-jour – directly towards the rising (or setting) sun. With the sun low in the sky, dark, elongated shadows will extend from the trees, adding drama and atmosphere to the image. Because all these shadows will converge toward the light source, it’s a good reason to use symmetry in your composition, with the sun placed directly in the middle of the frame. Your tree shadows will become lead-in lines, just as effective as any solid structures that would more often be used to take the viewer’s eye into the main content of the frame.
For your camera settings, use Aperture Priority and dial in a narrow aperture value of f/16. This will ensure a deep zone of sharpness from foreground to background. Use ISO 100. Once you’ve framed up, with the point of focus about one third of the way into the scene, take a test shot. Check your camera’s rear display: if the foreground is too dark, dial in one stop of positive exposure compensation and reshoot.
Once you’ve established the optimum exposure in this way, get your shot. But remember to work fast, as the sun is constantly on the move and won’t wait around for you!