The first is the prettiest. My flower photography. Most photographers start off by picking up a camera and taking photos in the their garden of flowers and insects... lots of out of focus 'creative' shots. I did that. Then I moved on and never looked at flowers again.
In April this year I was reintroduced to the beauty of flower photography by friend and fellow photographer Arlene. We set up the studio one Saturday morning and the top 2 shots and the very bottom 'postcard' shot is product of that morning. And I was hooked.
The other 3 photos were taken outside in various gardens in the last couple of months.
Studio vs outside. This is the one place I'd have to go for studio. It gives me more control over my background, especially when it comes to editing. I'm not battling the elements which is a huge factor when you are trying to get a shot. And of course you can control your lighting and shadows. There is better control over your depth of field and you can produce sharper images by using a tripod (much easier than dragging it out in the field with you). And you can set the scene and create a story with props.
I've then taken my floral photography one step further by the use of textures and overlays when editing. This past year I've become fascinated with art and its beauty. I think the longer you are a photographer the more you begin to appreciate true art - paintings, drawings, the work of the Masters. This is what I wanted to incorporate with my floral work. I wanted to create something beautiful with natures gift to us. Modern editing programmes allow me to do that. I wanted something that was uniquely mine.
Now when I'm in need of some downtime I will turn to my floral work and editing programmes and create something. While I do want to learn to paint this is a beautiful outlet where I can share my work online with friends and family and fellow photographers.
I've slowly started to learn the names of the flowers I'm taking photographs of. Although that isn't really the important thing to me or the motivation. Whereas before I'd often walk past a bed of flowers and not even notice it now I'm likely to stop and smell the roses.... I'm far more aware and far more appreciative of the everyday beauty around me... even in the dried up grass or weeds there is beauty to be found. Natures gift to us every day.