Flower Exhibition - Advice Please

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Alison

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Alison
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I've been asked by my local horticultural society to photograph the entries at their forthcoming exhibition. I'm VERY new to photography and have never shot indoors, nor have I photographed flowers in any context.

The exhibition is taking place in the Church where the light is pretty gloomy and this is the kit I have at my disposal:

Canon EOS 350D EF-S 18-55 kit
EF75-300mm lens
Infra red remote control

Other than the integral pop up flash I have no other lighting but a torch or two.

I'm assuming that the exhibits will be flowers in vases of various sizes so went out today and purchased sheets of A2 paper in black and white to use as backgrounds.

I was intending to get 2x large cardboard boxes, cut out one side and line them with the paper and possibly stick tinfoil on the bottom (with the intention of getting someone to shine a torch above or to the side of the exhibit)

Any thoughts as to what I can do to light these shots effectively?
 
Go buy a bunch of flowers from ASDA and have a practice at home - try shooting the flowers with the camera on a tripod if you've got one (if not you can get a cheap silk one from ASDA for about £10) Set ISO to 100 and don't use the flash , use a longer shutter time to get the correct exposure, Try different apertures to see the effect of DOF.
 
:agree: - get some flowers and have a practice. Your ideas about using foil for reflection of light are great, and as long as you get time with the exhibits, longer shutter speedsand a tripod/support of some kind, rather than flash and/or torches maybe the way to go and will avoid shadows and the like. If you can,have a word with the church warder, see what the chances are of you getting in the church for an hour to try out the light with your 'dummy' bunch and settings.
 
Dogfish_magnet said:
Go buy a bunch of flowers from ASDA and have a practice at home - try shooting the flowers with the camera on a tripod if you've got one (if not you can get a cheap silk one from ASDA for about £10) Set ISO to 100 and don't use the flash , use a longer shutter time to get the correct exposure, Try different apertures to see the effect of DOF.
Click to expand...
In which section of Asda ought I to look for a cheap silk tripod? Being really thick, I wouldn't even know what one looks like so any chance of posting a pic for me here?

I can get one at the weekend and start practising at home, as you say (great advice, thank you for that).

LadyLens said:
If you can,have a word with the church warder, see what the chances are of you getting in the church for an hour to try out the light with your 'dummy' bunch and settings.
Click to expand...
I've had a word with the church warden and he's sanctioned my hour (or so) beforehand. What with that, my cheap card and unlimited practise on dummy runs here at home I ought not to have any excuses! Please keep your fingers crossed for a successful first time togging flowers - let's hope I do the exhibits justice.
 
Sorry Alison its Star / Hama tripods from Asda- our local store has them next to the photo frames and camera cases etc.

star.jpg
 
Off to snap one of those bargains up on Saturday now I've seen it - my first tripod and it looks perfectly OK for my level of skill.

Oooh I feel all professional already! I thought I'd end up with a hassock balanced on a pew so for a tenner or so this is a real step up. Thank you.
 
Definitely agree with the no flash comments. Flash or harsh light can really decimate the look of flower shots unless expertly done.
Practise, practise, practise with natural and diffused light sources until you've a good idea of what works. Good luck. :thumbs:

Just to add, this was my first attempt at a bunch of lilies, whites are a bit blown I can see now and thats just with light from a window.
http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=11141&ppuser=1846
 
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