FINE-ART FLOWERS
Lauren Scott puts together a guide to creating stunning shots, with top lighting, technique and editing advice from the pros
Flowers are a perennial (excuse the pun) photography subject, and in this feature we’re going to run through the very best ways to capture them with a fine-art approach.
This genre stems (again, no pun intended) from the traditions of painting, and still-life artists have been focusing their efforts on capturing the essence of beautiful flowers for centuries. Works by the famous Dutch masters still inspire floristry arrangements today, as well as the pro photographers that capture them. But how can you glean inspiration from these pieces? Over the next few pages we’ll give you a few suggestions for subjects, lighting kit and lenses, plus we’ll explore the best techniques and settings for achieving creative, unusual results.
Once the shooting is over, delve into the editing tutorial on page 72 to finish off your fantastic florals. Or, for some quick-fire tips to get you started, head to page 74.
Whether you’re inspired by the trademark deep, dark backgrounds that emphasised the paintings by the Dutch masters, or you prefer modern, light and abstract imagery that’s characterised by bokeh and dreamy colours, learn to hone your skills in dealing with light, nature and depth.
Flowers make just an enchanting subject today as they did in the 16th century, when flower bulbs were incredibly rare and expensive. Fortunately, they’re now much more accessible and affordable, so you’ll be able to experiment with the composition, settings and style to your heart’s content.