Wild Flowers a Morning at the Zoo
Inspired by Kathleen Clemons I tried my hand at micro photography during a school field trip to the Phoenix Zoo.
Inspired by Kathleen Clemons I tried my hand at micro photography during a school field trip to the Phoenix Zoo.
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Nov, 2015Views
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KislerCreations
March 11, 2017
Thank-you ... This site has given me the courage to follow my passion and then share it with others.
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Behind The Lens
Location
This photo was taken on a 3rd grade, over night field trip, to the Phoenix Zoo, in Phoenix, Arizona.Time
In Arizona, our weather always seems to be warm enough for flowers to bloom. This picture was taken on a Saturday morning, about 10:00 A.M. It was early November and I was chaperoning a group of 3rd grade gifted students on an animal science field trip. I was taking pictures of some of the students on the trip, when I noticed these flowers in the background. I flipped my lens to the macro setting and took several shots before moving on. I loved this shot because of the great fall shades of orange and gold.Lighting
It was a beautiful, clear fall morning and in Arizona flowers bloom almost year around. The zoo is a great place to find wild flowers any time of the year. Lighting can be very tricky when you are shooting in macro. You need to find an angle that does not produce too much shadow, but still allows for depth in the image. For this shot I was able to shoot slightly high, allowing me to capture the inside tones of the flowers.Equipment
I only have one camera, a Canon T3i. I was using my Sigma DC 18-50 mm lens without a tripod or flash. I am still learning and my favorite setting is in program mode. This allows me a little flexibility, whether I use my built-in flash or go natural. I don't usually have time to set up a bulky tripod, so I have trained myself to hold a steady hand. I also take rapid, multiple shots in hopes of getting a sharp, color saturated image.Inspiration
When I am out and about with my camera I don't try to shoot one particular image. I allow the adventure to lead me to something interesting. I love taking all kinds of picture from nature shots, to abstract things that might not interest most photographers. Sometimes color will attract me, other times it can be just a word on the side of a building.Editing
I would love to say I am a natural photographer, but no. I do tend to edit my pictures for composition and sometimes to enhance color or clarity. I also love taking a great abstract shot and putting some fancy art manipulation to it.In my camera bag
My primary lens is my Sigma DC 18-50 mm 2.8 zoom lens. I just recently purchased the Canon EF 50 mm lens and am looking forward to checking out the quality of images it can produce. I also have a Canon EF 75-300 mm 1:4-5.6 zoom lens, but I have not been very successful with it. The images come out grainy, even on high resolution settings. The best purchase I made was a slingback camera bag. I used to get so frustrated with other bags, but the slingback not only provides me easy access to my lens, it sits just under my elbows and makes a great make-shift tripod.Feedback
My best advice is to take your time. Macro photography isn't a fast man's game, especially when you are taking nature shots. This shot took about 10 minutes, because there was a light breeze that keep the flowers in motion. Knowing how to set the shutter speed to match movement and light is a gift I am still learning to master. Another important component is angel. Don't be afraid to get above or below the subject to capture the right amount of depth. I think this shot came out so well because I was slightly above the blooms and could capture the texture and tones inside the flower. Also, take the time to review what other photographers have done. Composition makes any good picture great and I believe the more great images you look at, the better you get at developing your own composition style. Finally, the more you practice the better you get. Just keep working at it.
