Wildflowers

[John_SD]

One of the things I love about outdoor photography is no two days are quite alike and every time I go out, I learn something new. This past weekend we were out in the desert shooting wildflowers, a more challenging subject than I expected. I came away with a lot of shots I was happy with but a lot more that I wasn't happy with. I review my bad shots at the end of the day and think about what I could have done to have made them better -- poor compositon, improper focus or shutter speed issues are the main culprits -- then I delete them.

I made several mistakes. I didn't always position myself so that the sensor was paralell to the plane of the flower I was shooting. While I was mostly in Av so as to control depth of field, on several shots I shot in Tv and used shutter speeds that were too slow -- sometimes as slow as 1/60, which was not even close to what I needed, with the breeze making the blossoms flutter in the wind. My better shots came in at 1/200 and above. The other factor that contributes to out of focus shots is I was bending over and hand-holding the camera, trying to fill the frame with a nice sharp blossm with an out-of-focus background. Camera shake ruined several shots. 

So, next time I'm taking my tripod and my 75-300mm (I was shooting with an 18-55mm). That telephoto lens is going to be an issue, I think, because specs say its minimum focus distance is 4.9 feet. I've been told that 5 feet or LESS is best for using a telephoto on wildflowers.

What lens would you suggest for wildflowers?

[keithf]

I would look in to the Canon 24-105. Not only a great walk around, but inincororates the Macro feature, which on a tripod would be great for shooting flowers. I would shoot at f/4 for a shallower DOF. Also, the closer to your subject, the shallower your DOF. If you need more then increase it up to f/22.

Keith

[ebiggs1]

"I would look in to the Canon 24-105."

I second that suggestion.  The best buy in a real deal "L" lens.  If all you have are the kit lenses, this is a great upgrade.

However, the best lenses you can own for 95% of whatever you want to shoot are the fantastic duo ef 24-70mm f2.8L along with its big brother the ef 70-200mm f2.5L.  These two are not cheap but they are life long friends.  

But what lens is best?  Check out these shots.........

All done with a Powershot G15.  

"... other factor that contributes to out of focus shots ... with an out-of-focus background. Camera shake ruined several shots."

Yeah man I hear ya.  OOF and camera motion is a tough one but the best thing I can suggest you get and use is a good post editor.  Great shots are made in post, not in the camera.  Get one and learn how to use it.  You will be glad you did.

[John_SD]

Thanks for the tips, guys, and great shots there ebiggs. i was stunned when I got to the end and saw you shot it with a Powershot G15. Post-processing, I am getting in to Canon's DPP software and like it so far. I suspect at some point I'll move on to Lightroom. 

I checked out the Canon refurbished lenses and saw this 24-105mm L for $599.99. B&H and other outlets sell it new for $999, so refurbished offers a substantial savings. I'll talk to my CFO (wife) tonight about it, as I never make a purchase like this without approval. 

https://shop.usa.canon.com/shop/en/catalog/ef-24-105mm-f-4l-is-usm-refurbished

[ebiggs1]

"...I never make a purchase like this without approval."

Smart man !    Happy wife, happy life.

[RobertTheFat]

---

@ebiggs1 wrote:

"...I never make a purchase like this without approval."

Smart man !    Happy wife, happy life.

---

I've said this before, and I'll probably have occasion to mention it again: The way it works best is if your wife is a photographer too!

A couple of years after we're married, my wife's old Sears & Roebuck 35mm cashes in.

Bob:  What kind of camera do you want to replace it?

Martha:  One that can use your lenses.

[John_SD]

---

@RobertTheFat wrote:

---

@ebiggs1 wrote:

"...I never make a purchase like this without approval."

Smart man !    Happy wife, happy life.

---

I've said this before, and I'll probably have occasion to mention it again: The way it works best is if your wife is a photographer too!

A couple of years after we're married, my wife's old Sears & Roebuck 35mm cashes in.

Bob:  What kind of camera do you want to replace it?

Martha:  One that can use your lenses.

---

I'm going to have to convince my wife that she needs a new hobby 🙂