This week, one of my A Year With My Camera students described in our Facebook group how he aspires to take high key flower photographs like Mandy Disher. Amateur Photography magazine published a fantastic piece from Mandy where she describes her set up, lighting and gives plenty of tips (click here to read the post). My student was not getting the results he wanted, so I had a go at following the tutorial, and have found a couple of steps missing - mostly at the editing stage.
Read More10 fun weekend project ideas
These projects have all been featured in my free, online, beginners' photography workshop, A Year With My Camera. Each one can be done in a weekend - go out and have some fun with your camera.
Read MoreCalling British flowers florists
Are you a florist who uses British flowers? Do you want to be featured on The British Flowers Book blog?
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Week 8: Shoot into the sun
When it's warm enough to shoot outside you can bring your flowers alive with some carefully placed natural daylight. Hopefully after reading this post you'll never shoot with your flowers in full sun again.
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Floral design: Caroline at Cherfold Flowers
Florists: the only 5 camera settings you need
At a recent shoot, Caroline Oleron (Cherfold Flowers) asked me to explain my settings and why she should get a tripod. It's all useful information, so here goes:
1. Low ISO, 100 or 200.
2. Pick your aperture for the depth of field you want: the photo above was f11.
3. Let the camera choose the shutter speed (in this photo it was 1/2 second).
4. Manually focus.
5. Use a tripod (or a chair, or a pile of books) and the self timer.
Read on for the detail.
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Indirect natural window light. 100mm macro lens, f2.8, ISO 100, 1/8. Tripod, self timer.
Week 7: Ranunculus (again)
A very simple set up today. Very soft window light coming from the right, with the flowers well into the shade to reduce contrast.
Read MoreApril highlights in floral photography
The clocks have gone back, the flowers are fighting to be first out, and the world smells of optimism.
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Shaded natural daylight from top right. 50mm, f8, ISO100 1/60, tripod, self timer.
Week 6: Icelandic poppies
These beauties were crying out for a simple, linear photo. The background was chosen to echo the parallel lines but provide a counterpoint that emphasises the bendy unpredictable stems.
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