How to Create Wildflower Fine Art Photography
photo by kanonsky via iStock
A few weeks back, I posed the question, "What is fine art photography?"
It's perhaps a little difficult to define, but eventually I came to the following definition:
Fine art photography is about the artist and their interpretation of the scene. The camera is merely a tool to create art - it’s not about what the camera sees, but is instead about what the artist wants to make of the scene.
So, fine art photography is equal parts the subject matter and the photographer's intent to display that subject matter in their own unique way.
That being the case, I thought it would be fun to apply this concept to wildflowers so we can learn how to create wildflower fine art photography together.
Let's get started!
Wildflower Fine Art Photography: Give the Scene a Voice
Photo by Eli DeFaria on Unsplash
Part of making a wildflower scene your own is finding a way to give it a voice that's unique to you.
Personally, I like to add a human element to wildflower fine art photography because it helps the viewer put themselves in the scene with greater ease.
For example, the woman exploring the field of wildflowers in the image above gives the shot a sense of wonderment and exploration.
And while the wildflowers become a supporting element, they still play a prominent role given their positioning in the foreground (shooting through the nearest wildflowers is also a nice touch to improve depth).
photo by Focqus, LLC via iStock
Adding a human element to your wildflower fine art photography doesn't have to be as overt as including a person, either.
In the example above, the presence of the path is more than enough indication of human activity to help viewers engage more deeply in the shot.
That is, the path serves as a leading line to help our eyes inspect the midground and background, but it also puts you in a frame of reference to wonder, "Where does the path go?"
Again, it's elements like this that can help give your images more storytelling power and help viewers place themselves in the scene.
Learn More:
Wildflower Fine Art Photography: Mind the Light
Photo by Mario Álvarez on Unsplash
Obviously, the quality of your wildflower fine art photos will depend largely on the lighting conditions under which you create the shots.
Bright sunlight should be avoided at all costs because that kind of harsh lighting results in a dynamic range that is difficult for your camera to accommodate.
Instead, shooting in the early morning or late evening hours allows you to take advantage of much softer (and warmer) light while shooting on overcast days gives you an opportunity to highlight the colors of the flowers set against a more or less gray sky, as shown above.
Quick Tip: Incorporating motion (like the blurred clouds in the image above) adds another layer of interest to your wildflower fine art photography. Watch the wind, though - if there is much of a breeze, the flowers in the foreground of the shot will be a bit of a blurry mess.
Wildflower Fine Art Photography: Consider Your Point of View
photo by DaveAlan via iStock
If you've ever read a tutorial about photographing children, one of the most common pieces of advice is to change your point of view and get on the child's eye level.
The same is true when creating wildflower fine art photography - if you get on the level of the flowers, the scene you represent will be more unique and engaging for viewers to inspect.
This is because the world as seen from a foot or two off the ground is much different than it looks from the average eye level.
photo by kanonsky via iStock
Besides, dropping the eye level of the shot allows you to put the wildflowers front-and-center in the image to highlight their colors, shapes, textures, and so forth.
What's more, by taking a very low shooting position, you can give the photo of wildflowers a little more context by incorporating the background and sky.
photo by kanonsky via iStock
In this example, the low angle of view allows us to survey the landscape immediately behind the wildflowers. Not only that, but the interesting sky adds all kinds of drama to this photo.
My good friend and wildflower fine art photographer Kevin Vandivier says that a "skyscape crown" is an all but required element to create a breathtaking example of wildflower fine art photography. This might take the form of a coming storm, as shown above, bright beams of light of the rising or setting sun, or a color-splashed, cloud-filled sky in the early morning or late evening.
Photo by Rikki Austin on Unsplash
Dropping down to the level of the flowers not only allows you to highlight this different world, but there are also plentiful opportunities to create an image that might be a little unexpected.
In the image above, there's two techniques at work that make this an interesting example of wildflower fine art photography.
First, the selective focus makes you feel like you're in a dream, walking through a field of wildflowers.
Second, the darkness of the shot is quite unexpected, but it works because it gives us that unexpected element that makes it a unique image unto its own.
Photo by Milos Tonchevski on Unsplash
So, as you explore creating your own wildflower fine art photography, bear in mind that you need to find ways to give your photos a voice. Likewise, utilize the highest-quality light to create the most pleasing images.
Lastly, alter your angle of view and experiment with the vantage point from which you compose your photos. You'll often find that it's not the first point of view that gives you the best results!
To view more beautiful examples of wildflower fine art photography, visit Kevin Vandivier's wildflower image gallery.
