Photography Project: Photographing California Wildflowers

This year I decided to take matters into my own hands…..instead of searching in vain for “natural” wildflowers, I was going to search for “man-made” (or cultivated) wildflowers.  Much to my dismay, even man-made wildflowers were challenging to shoot.

I mean really, if you are going to scatter wildflower seeds somewhere, perhaps it can be done in a place that gets some shade during the day and is protected from the wind.  I don’t think that’s asking for much.  In full disclosure, I spread some seeds in my backyard, and did not consider the above, and found myself struggling with the natural elements – sun, wind, and a dive-bombing hummingbird that happened to build a nest right above my flower patch.

Below are flowers from 3 locations:

• The side of the road near my neighborhood, courtesy of Wildflowering.org.
• The LA Arboretum (again courtesy of Wildflowering.org)
• My backyard

Here are some general tips for where ever you might drop your tripod to photograph wildflowers:

• Set a high ISO to freeze any movement.  Wildflowers are genetically adapted to flutter in the breeze to improve their chances of propagation.
• Use a remote trigger.  This will stop camera shake when you press the button and allow you to better time when the shutter opens to a lull in the breeze
• Overcast days are the best, if that’s not possible, search for flowers in the shade or create shade with your body, a jacket, or a reflector
• Get close with a open aperture. Wildflower scenes tend to be messy – many do look like weeds.  Using a macro to isolate a bloom or two while throwing the background into a blur will contribute to creating a beautiful image.
• Look for the ugly.  Sometimes beauty can be found in “spent” flowers, those on the downside, or that have gone to seed.