photographing flower help

hi everyone,
I like to take photos of flowers, and to have the flower stand out in the photo; I'd like to have the background/surroundings around the flower completely blurred out. What is the best way to achieve this? I know I should open up my aperature very wide (like f/4.0); is there anything else I should do? Should I stand very close or far from the flower? I have a small zoom lens (28-80 mm) on my camera too, if that helps. Any tips and advice would be so appreciated.

Since I don't shoot flowers, the only thing I can suggest besides opening the aperture to even 2.8, is use a tripod and experiment, experiment, experiment. If you're using a digital camera, practice is free. I'm sure someone with flower experience will eventually give you more useful advice.

PhotoGirl,

Close or far-away would depend on your lens. When I shoot flowers (not often so take it for what it's worth) I use a long lens standing back a bit, but wide open, or I use a 28-75 with a close-up lens which goes onto your lens like a filter. Alternatively, use an extension tube.

The other thing that I would say (and I'm not a great flower person) would be to try some different angles rather than the standard head-on approach. There's a photographer on flickr that does some beautiful flower work at http://www.flickr.com/photos/april4cheese/

PC

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Originally Posted by PhotoGirl

hi everyone,
I like to take photos of flowers, and to have the flower stand out in the photo; I'd like to have the background/surroundings around the flower completely blurred out. What is the best way to achieve this? I know I should open up my aperature very wide (like f/4.0); is there anything else I should do? Should I stand very close or far from the flower? I have a small zoom lens (28-80 mm) on my camera too, if that helps. Any tips and advice would be so appreciated.

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An aperture of f/4 might work but usually you need something wider than that. Getting as close as you can without a macro lens will help.

If this is a DSLR, try buying a set of close-up lenses that screw into the filter threads or some extension tubes. This will let you get much closer and reduce the DOF even more.

If this lens is on a P&S, you are pretty much out of luck as the DOF will be huge no matter what (very tiny focal lengths).

You'll just have to experiment with aperture but that's not difficult with a dslr.
I would also suggest getting either the early or late light and avoid direct sun. I've even done some decent shots just by blocking the light with my body.
Watch the background light as you'll get washed out backgrounds if its too bright.
One thing I also avoid is having petals leading off frame unless its a real closeup where the center of the flower really fills the frame. That could be my own personal taste though.

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Originally Posted by Frog

You'll just have to experiment with aperture but that's not difficult with a dslr.
I would also suggest getting either the early or late light and avoid direct sun. I've even done some decent shots just by blocking the light with my body.
Watch the background light as you'll get washed out backgrounds if its too bright.
One thing I also avoid is having petals leading off frame unless its a real closeup where the center of the flower really fills the frame. That could be my own personal taste though.

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I'd just like to echo Frog's advice about lighting and composition. Most of the flowers I shoot are macro type shots where you tend to have a little more leeway with aperture. The lighting issue is key though. While it would seem that sunlight makes the colors more vibrant, it tends to remove many of the intricate details from your subject. Check out the flower section of my gallery, I have some shots that capture the DOF that you are describing as well as the macro stuff I am talking about. Might give you some ideas. Good luck!

I have found that it will depend on the flower your shooting and how much of the flower you want in focus too. I tend to use my 50mm prime for flower shots and set up to get the composition I want. Then I will take multiple shots at different F-stop settings and shutter speeds and pick and choose. As a 2.8 aperture will blur out your background, it may not allow you to have the entire flower in focus depending on the angle and type of flower you are shooting. You will find that 1 particular setting may work for one flower on a certain day, but may be totally different on a different flower or even the same flower in different lighting conditions. As they said above - experiment - if you find the shot you like take a bunch of shots at different settings so you get it how you want it.

The DOF is a function of not just the aperture, but of focal length and subject distance as well. So a setting of "f/4.0" isn't sufficient by itself to determine whether the DOF is going to be adequate for any given setting.

The following are each going to make the DOF shallower:

Larger aperture (smaller f-stop number)
Longer focal length
Closer subject distance

Doing all three will make the DOF extremely shallow to suit your taste. Another way to look at it: I can shoot macros with my 17-40mm at 11" at f/4.0 and the DOF is completely different (as is the angle of view) compared to my 300mm at 4' at f/4.0 - even though the subject may be the same size in the viewfinder.

Note that the type of flowers you're shooting has a huge impact too. Perhaps you're shooting large non-flat flowers (orchids, lillies, ibises)? If so, getting enough DOF is difficult and background clutter will become a factor. Please post some examples of what you feel needs improving so that we can be more helpful.

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Originally Posted by PhotoGirl

hi everyone,
I like to take photos of flowers, and to have the flower stand out in the photo; I'd like to have the background/surroundings around the flower completely blurred out. What is the best way to achieve this? I know I should open up my aperature very wide (like f/4.0); is there anything else I should do? Should I stand very close or far from the flower? I have a small zoom lens (28-80 mm) on my camera too, if that helps. Any tips and advice would be so appreciated.

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If your camera has manual focus use it. It get the back ground out of focus you need to shot at the max aperture, and at the longest focal length positable. For best results you should use a tripod if the exposure is over 1/30 of a second.

The second thing is the 28-80mm the true focal length or the 35mm film equivalent? If it is a 35mm film equivalent you will have a lot more DOF than a the same view on a 35mm film camera.

thanks everyone for your helpful advice!!:)
And thanks namasste and PrevailingConditions for the links, there were definately lots of beautiful flowers images to look at and learn from.
I agree with the many posts that have suggested that, the main thing is for me to experiment with aperature, focal length and distance to see what works best with my camera and subject--I'll be a busy girl!:)

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Originally Posted by PhotoGirl

thanks everyone for your helpful advice!!:)
And thanks namasste and PrevailingConditions for the links, there were definately lots of beautiful flowers images to look at and learn from.
I agree with the many posts that have suggested that, the main thing is for me to experiment with aperature, focal length and distance to see what works best with my camera and subject--I'll be a busy girl!:)

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one thing to add when looking at others pics...be sure to check out the exif and use the settings you see as a baseline. from there, you'll really start to get a feel for what different setting will do and what works for you. have fun sista!