Flower photos in the new year?

Today is the last Thursday of 2012. With the new year just around the corner, many of us start thinking about new year resolutions. Hence this week’s prompt of ~ Pondering with a purpose ~ is: Do you make new years resolutions? And if so, do you keep them?

Here is my pondering about new years resolution and flower photos

Beforehand, no, I don’t make any. I usually let the past year(s) run by me. Trying to find out what went wrong, what could have gone better and what was a success. But really I do not see a point in making a resolution to make myself do or not do something in the new year. If I find that something needs to be changed, I change it. No matter if I made a resolution or not. A somehow manifested resolution to know and be reminded that I should do or not do something feels obsolete to me. So, no new years resolutions for me.

And therefore none to break, either. Because, quite honestly, it always puts me off hearing how often people fail at keeping their resolution. So, what’s the point? Why do you even make one? To try? To be reminded to try? Hmm, I guess that is it. So let me rephrase. I don’t make new years resolutions myself, but if the concept works for you that is wonderful! Because at the very least you noticed that you want or need to change something and are setting a goal to achieve it in the new year. I wish you much strength and success to fulfilling your resolution.

Maybe I should make a resolution about not taking so many photos of flowers? Or quite possibly even more? I was thinking about what to blog about for letter ‘F’ of Alphabe- Thursday and at once thought of flowers. No matter where I go they always seem to ask me: ‘Take a photo of me! Look how beautiful I am.’ So, when I went into my photo archive I found way over a thousand plant (flower) photos. I can only imagine how many flower photos a macro photographer must have, since they seem to lend themselves to macro photography. But not only, as you will see. Here are a few tips on taking flower photos.

Get down low – Get a different perspective! Seeing the fern photo I always wonder if tiny people are living among the ‘trees’.

fern, flower purple, flower

This is usually as much of a close up as I get without using a macro lens or converter. In real macro photography you would get mostly or just the pollen tubes.

white, iris, lily white, peony red, Christmas, cactus, schlumbergerapink, magnolia

Here are examples of beautiful bokeh|blur | shallow depth of field flower photos taken with a DSLR. In each one of them you will find only a small selective area in focus, directing the viewer’s eye.

purple, flowerPurple Clover, grass & bokehwhite, flower, chamomille yellow, white, flowerlight, shadow, purple, flower, bokehbutterfly, purple, flower

But you don’t need a DSLR to get beautiful flower photos. These two were taken with my android smart phone.

Magnolia, rain, drops yellow, summer, flower

Now, how about getting shots of a bed or field of flowers, which may seem a little messy? As already shown in the last picture with the yellow flower, a good idea is to get something big, dominant in the foreground and take it from there. Another one is to have only the flowers in the frame, but to make it more interesting by adding a shallow depth of field.

meadow, purple, flowersfield, purple flowers  field, white, flowers field, forget-me-not

When you are out there start looking for patterns & lines! Yes, patterns & lines in flowers. Have a look at these four photos. Notice what I mean?

White, Yucca, flower pink, flower, rain drop purple, daisyyellow, rose

And lastly, you did not think you could get away without at least a bit of photo editing, did you? Here are 1) a high key photo of pink Bougainvilleas and 2) a black & white conversion of tulips after a rain shower. Both are available in my shop on Etsy.

pink, bougainvillea, highkeywhite, tulip, black & white

You know, having worked on and seeing these now, I will just continue to take flower photos, with or without new years resolution. And when will you be going out to shoot some flower photos? Tell me about it.

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This is myJenny Matlock contribution today Pondering with a purpose by Brenda Youngerman and to letter ‘F’ of round 6 of Alphabe- Thursday hosted by Jenny Matlock. If you have a moment please visit their  websites and check out other bloggers’ work.

 

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30 thoughts on “Flower photos in the new year?”

  1. You can never have too many flower pictures! Hubby actually took over 300 pictures one time on a 3 hour walk in Gros Morne Park in Newfoundland. The flowers were only an inch or 2 off the ground. The only other pictures worth taking are of birds!

    Reply
    • Hahaha – Judy, that could have totally been me with the 300 photos. Thank God my husband does not get tired waiting for me when I have to take yet another photo 🙂

      Reply
  2. Wow, what gorgeous photos!! I am a little like you in making resolutions, although I think when you see something that needs to be changed, a little committment goes a long way 🙂

    Reply
  3. Claudia,
    I don’t think you need to resolve to take less flower pictures… I am always drawn to the beauty of flowers as well….

    Thank you for pondering with me…..

    Happy New Year!

    Reply
  4. Those are gorgeous photos! And thanks for the photography tips. Also, I had no idea such beautiful close-ups can be taken with a smartphone. The camera on mine is fairly decent. I may have to give this a try in the spring, which, by the way, isn’t necessarily a resolution!

    Reply
    • You are welcome, Bee. Yes, do take those photos! After all they are digital and if you don’t like them… just toss them 🙂

      Reply
  5. Well, let me tell you one thing about resolutions which might make you change your mind. I had never made any myself until last year. I just sat down and compiled a list with resolutions for 2012. I think I re-read them twice through the year. Last week I went through them and do you know what I found out? I had achieved 8 of 12. Isn’t that quite a lot!

    Writing wishes/dreams/resolutions is the first step to making them come true, don’t underestimate your power.

    Your photographs are wonderful. Drop by my blog to check out my monthly photographs from Norway.

    Reply
    • Nope, sorry, not changing my mind 🙂 But I am happy to hear that resolutions work for some people, specifically you. 8 out of 12 is great! I hope that 2013 will be just as good or even better for you! And no, I do not underestimate my power or the power of my ‘mind/will’.

      Reply
  6. This was really a thought provoking post.

    I try to live my life each day so I don’t have to make resolutions. Sure I slip and slide away from things I should do…such as exercise, etc…but the important stuff I always make time for.

    I love your fabulous flower pictures. That little morning glory on the pavers is my favorite! The little flower that COULD!

    Thank you for linking.

    Happy New Year!

    A+

    Reply
    • The most important thing is that you stay focused on your path in life, Jenny. That little flower was sooo cute, looking up to ‘me’ 🙂

      Reply

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