In the garden
We learned through lockdown that our gardens and local parks host a vast array of subjects. Simply step into your garden and an abundance of photo opportunities awaits!
1 Dewy webs
Clear, cool nights will typically leave grasses, roosting insects, flowers and spiderwebs glistening with dew. Webs form intricate patterns and more than justify a closer look. To capture webs sharp throughout, select a small aperture and opt for a parallel angle to place as much of the subject as possible within the plane of focus.
2 Petal power
Flowers are hugely photogenic and ideal subjects for honing your skills. They are ephemeral things, so keep a close eye on the blooms in your garden, shooting them as soon as they peak. An overcast, windless day is best.
3 Reflect the light
Light can be in short supply when shooting garden close-ups. To provide extra illumination, use a reflector (or a piece of white card or tin foil) to bounce light onto your subject and relieve ugly shadows. Alter the light’s intensity by moving the reflector closer or further away, or adjusting angle.
4 Backlighting is best
Backlighting will highlight fine detail, shape, and form. Shoot towards the sun’s direction for dramatic results, being careful to avoid flare – attach a lens hood or shield your lens if required.
5 Get closer
To capture frame-filling shots of garden blooms, bees and butterflies, you need a closefocusing lens. A macro is best, but close-up filters or auto extension tubes are less-expensive options. Both attachments work by reducing the lens’s minimum focusing distance, thus increasing its effective magnification.
Keep a close eye on the blooms in your garden, shooting them as soon as they peak. An overcast, windless day is best
6 Create a garden ecosystem
Entice photogenic subjects into your garden by making it wildlife-friendly. Create microhabitats by leaving areas of lawn uncut, allowing nettles, wildflowers and grass to grow. Hedges, ivy and climbers are helpful for providing shelter for moths and other insects. Consider creating a small pond and buying – or constructing – an ‘insect hotel.’
7 Add sparkle
Use a spray bottle to add tiny water droplets to webs, flowers and foliage, but avoid spraying insects. Shoot into the light to make droplets glisten. For more precision, place water droplets using a syringe or eyedropper – add glycerine to create larger, more stable drops.
8 Look for pristine subjects
In close-up, even the smallest damage or defect is obvious. Therefore, be fussy! Take your time and look for perfect specimens – these will typically photograph far better.
9 Garden the frame
Allow your eye to fully explore the imagespace. Fail to do so and you risk unwanted grasses or other distractions entering the frame. Don’t be scared to do a spot of ‘gardening’ – tidying-up the composition you see through the viewfinder to ensure your photos are clean and simple.